Greg Cook, founder of Old Town Whiskey Club and Old Town Strong, died earlier this week of unknown causes.

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Bark + Boarding, a dog daycare and boarding business, has officially opened in Manassas. The business partnered with the Prince William Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 30. Ryan Fochler, founder of Bark + Boarding, shared insights into the company's growth and services during a recent interview. The company, which began as a dog-walking service, has expanded to offer a wide range of services, including daycare, boarding, grooming, training, socialization, and retail. "It's really pretty much everything now except veterinary services," Fochler explained. Fochler emphasized the company's commitment to pet owners who seek comprehensive care for their dogs. "We love to communicate. We always give a little communication cards. We want our clients to know if their dogs are having anything that we're seeing," he said. This approach ensures that both Barkin' Boarding and pet owners can collaborate effectively on the dogs' care. The onboarding process at Barkin' Boarding includes a thorough evaluation to ensure that dogs are a good fit for the facility. "We do have an eval process. So a dog will come in for doggy daycare... We really like to take the time with them. They start out in a zone by themselves and slowly work in dogs that we know are going to be a good fit before we merge the packs," Fochler explained. Located in a 9,500-square-foot facility at 10035 Dean Drive, next to the Manassas animal shelter, Bark + Boarding's newest location is set to enhance its grooming, socialization, and training services. "We're excited to really give clients the space they need for their dogs when they go on vacation or just hanging out for the day," Fochler said. Bark + Boarding has been operating in Bailey's Crossroads since 1999, but Fochler said they've been eyeing an opportunity to expand. The place had to be perfect. "There's been a lot of changes inside the Beltway, with a lot of areas no longer allowing outdoor space," Fochler said. "From experiences we've had with other jurisdictions, it's been extremely challenging, and Manassas City really seems to be much more business-friendly." Fochler said the city has been welcoming since the beginning of July and proposed a ribbon-cutting ceremony. "The welcoming of small businesses in this area has been awesome," Fochler said. "It is night and day different from some other areas that we've been looking to grow." And it's been an easier transition because they will be in the same facility as Waggin' Tails Junction, which closed earlier this year.  The business has retained many of the Waggin' Tails Junction clients. The Manassas location currently offers daycare, boarding, positive reinforcement training, and grooming services. A structured daycare and boarding program will roll out in the fall.

@barkandboarding opened its newest facility next to the @CityofManassas animal shelter on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Video from the @pwchamber ribbon cutting. Welcome to the neighborhood! pic.twitter.com/9v0klYi92P

— Potomac Local News (@PotomacLocal) July 31, 2024

The University of Virginia Health Prince William Medical Center received a donation of patient care kits from Stohlman Subaru of Sterling for cancer patients.

This is the ninth year Stohlman Subaru — a family-owned business in Sterling for more than 80 years — has donated to patients undergoing cancer treatment. Stohlman Subaru partnered with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as part of the Subaru Loves to Care initiative.

“Here at Stohlman, we lead with our hearts and treat neighbors like our own family. It is our privilege to contribute to the well-being of our neighbors and friends during their time of need,” Adam Portzel, marketing director at Stohlman Subaru, said.  “This year we doubled our order for UVA Health for 130 blankets and 30 patient care kits. The care kits feature coloring activities, a reusable water bottle, a sleep mask, games, and more.”

This initiative supports patients and families impacted by blood cancer, and the Sterling location joins more than 600 other national Subaru retailers in this effort. According to the press release sent out by the medical center, Subaru will have supported nearly 350,000 cancer patients by the end of 2024.

“We are deeply grateful for Stohlman Subaru’s ongoing commitment to our patients,” said Erik Shannon, chief executive officer, UVA Health’s community medical centers and clinics in northern Virginia and Culpeper. “They generously doubled their donation this year of blankets and care kits, coupled with heartfelt messages from their customers and team members. They continue to have a profound impact on the well-being of our community. Their partnership with LLS exemplifies their dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by blood cancers.”

As Nov. 5 (Election Day) approaches, Prince William County’s Office of Elections is looking for residents to serve as election officers.

Applications are due this Friday (Aug. 2) to be eligible to serve on Election Day. Officers are responsible for setting up the precinct, checking in voters, distributing ballots, accurately report results and close the polling place at 7 p.m.

“Elections wouldn’t happen without people to run them,” Prince William County Office of Elections Spokeswoman Thalia Simpson said. “Our office only has 16 full-time employees, so with 103 polling places in Prince William County, our election officers are literally what allows this to work.”

Officers receive $200 for working the day with Spanish speakers receiving a $25 bonus. Officers also receive a free “American Hero” t-shirt and a commemorative pin.

According to the county’s website, these are the qualifications for an officer:

All election officers must:

• Be a registered voter of the Commonwealth of Virginia;
• Not hold an elected position, or be the employee of an elected official;
• Be available to attend all mandatory training; and
• Be available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day without leaving the polling place. 

More information can be found on the county’s website for elections. 

The Brentsville Road Interchange — which connects the Route 234 Bypass, the Prince William County Parkway, Dumfries and Brentsville roads — is now open for pedestrians and cyclists.

Opened in the Coles District, the $54.9 million project was fully funded by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. The project was first considered in 2019 and under contract in 2020, according to Department of Transportation Director Rick Canizales.

Coles District County Supervisor Yesli Vega attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 25 and was excited about the new bridge.

“I always refer to my district as the heart of Prince William County. You cannot connect the east and the west without the Coles District. This is a project that has been long overdue and in the making,” Vega said.

Prince William County Trails and Blueways Council Coles District Representative Joe Marshall said he was excited about the new bridge because it now presents a safer option for pedestrians.

“Biking over this pedestrian bridge is so much better than dodging traffic coming off of a high-speed roadway,” Marshall said. “This is an awesome bridge and hopefully the first of several needed throughout the county to realize the mobility trail network in the county’s comprehensive plan. I believe my neighbors and I, and many in the county, will feel the benefits of this intersection for years to come.”

Howison Homestead Soccer Complex’s expansion and renovation project kicked off on July 25 with a gathering of county leaders.

Located at 14716 Minnieville Road, the soccer complex has three large soccer fields, two open-play fields and two  playgrounds. The planned expansion of the complex includes an additional 1,200 square feet to the facility’s sole building, accessibility improvements and new sidewalks.

The additional square footage to the building will include more space for public restrooms, team locker rooms, a storage room and a large meeting room. Around the complex visitors will see two pavilions, new bleachers and benches, a new LED scoreboard and improvements to the parking lot, including restriping spots, new lighting and asphalt work.

Prince William County Parks and Recreation Director Seth Handler-Voss said in the press release that his staff and Prince William Soccer Inc. were instrumental in bringing these changes to fruition.

“This project is particularly gratifying because it’s been about six years in the making,” Handler-Voss said. “They say that good things come to those who wait, and I would argue that great things come to those who wait a little bit longer. And this project is indeed great.”

The Parks and Recreation Department confirmed the timeline for construction will be around 18 months from the start of construction, but the three fields will remain open. The concession building will be closed during this time.

Prince William County is extending its sustainability partnership with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP).

VEEP is a program that encourages Virginia businesses “to go beyond compliance and embrace pollution prevention in their day-to-day activities,” its website states. The program was designed to encourage organizations — both public and private — to make environmental sustainability a part of their culture.

According to a press release from Prince William County, the county has been a VEEP partner for more than 10 years.

“Every year we aim to improve our programs and impact from our fire station vegetable garden installations to our efforts to meet our climate goals,” Office of Sustainability Director Guilia Manno said.

Organizations must go through an application process with VEEP. According to VEEP’s website, highlights of Prince William County include the Climate Mitigation and Resiliency Goals adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2020 and the Community Energy and Sustainability Master Plan in 2023.

Other sustainability partners in the state include:

• Alexandria Renew Enterprises
• City of Charlottesville
• Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program
• Liebherr USA, Co.
• Prince William Water
• U.S. Army Fort Gregg-Adams
• Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors removed the loan limit on the University Village project at the July 16 meeting in a 5-2 vote. Supervisors Robert Weir and Yesli Vega opposed.

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Two dedicated mountain bikers have made it their mission to build out a trail at Andrew Leitch Park.

Jason Williams and Rich Wilson became fast friends when they started riding in the same areas and found one another on a fitness app, which fueled their competitive spirits to break one another’s records.

Both had been riding at Andrew Leitch for years and separately thought of ways to expand and clean up the trail. As volunteers with Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) — a nonprofit of local DMV mountain bikers that aims to increase access to natural surface trails — the two realized they could get this project off the ground.

Williams and Wilson helped clean up and build the trail at Locust Shade Park in Triangle. It took a few years to get the Andrew Leitch project started, but after an event with Keep Prince William Beautiful, the project really started.

“While we were walking through the woods, we discovered so much trash that we were shocked,” Wilson said. “Apparently, residents had just been dumping back there instead of taking things to the dump.”

According to Wilson, work is never done on the trail, but it is already being enjoyed by residents and neighbors alike.