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Welcome (or welcome back) to a new Potomac Local News series, “Meet the Principal.” With nearly two dozen new principals in Prince William County this school year, it’s important to get to know the folks in their new roles. Potomac Local has asked each principal the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below.

Today, get to know Andrew "Andy" Jacks, Ed.D., the new principal of Ellis Elementary School in Bull Run. He's been an educator for nearly 25 years and has been a principal in Prince William County Schools (PWCS) since 2010.

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The National Museum of the Marine Corps unveiled two new galleries to the public on Sunday, commemorating the exhibits with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The galleries feature hundreds of artifacts from all major United States Marine Corps operations from 1976 to 2021, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. As the 250th anniversary of the Corps approaches, this new exhibit will showcase the most recent 50 years.

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[Photo by Pixabay via Pexels]
InsideNoVa.com: “A $17 million Tesla dealership is being eyed for James Madison Marketplace along John Marshall Highway in Haymarket.

The Prince William Planning Commission unanimously approved a special use permit for the project during its Sept. 11 meeting. Measuring 50,215 square feet, the dealership is planned for a 7.9-acre pad site due west of a Home Depot and will include over 300 surface parking spaces. The project has yet to appear on a Board of County Supervisors agenda.”

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The new all-terrain wheelchairs now available at the Manassas National Battlefield Park. [Photo courtesy of MNBP]
The Manassas National Battlefield Park debuted two all-terrain wheelchairs on Monday to provide more access to visitors.

The manually powered wheelchairs have two mountain bike wheels and a manual lever to allow for greater access to visitors who may need the wheelchair to experience the battlefield. The chairs will be available for free each day the park is open.

"The all-terrain wheelchairs are the first phase of the park’s increased accessibility strategy," Park Superintendent Kris Butcher said. "Providing equitable access for all visitors is an integral part of our mission. I look forward to continuing to provide more opportunities for all visitors to experience Manassas National Battlefield Park."

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Welcome (or welcome back) to a new Potomac Local News series, “Meet the Principal.” With nearly two dozen new principals in Prince William County this school year, it’s important to get to know the folks in their new roles. Potomac Local has asked each principal the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below. Today, get to know Erika Williams, the new principal of Dumfries Elementary. Williams has been an educator in Prince William County Schools (PWCS) since 2015. Why Prince William County, and why Dumfries Elementary?

I came to PWCS in 2015 as a military spouse. I started as a fourth-grade teacher at Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary School and later taught at Kyle Wilson Elementary School. Following that, I stepped into the role of assistant principal at Yorkshire Elementary School. I became my best in PWCS, thanks to the leadership opportunities, professional development and peer support I was given. I can officially call this place home, as it’s the longest my family has settled anywhere during my husband’s military career, the second being Fort Cavazos, Texas.

Dumfries Elementary School piqued my interest because I see it as a place where I can really connect with the surrounding community. One of my Gallup strengths is connectedness. When I reviewed Dumfries Elementary's mission and vision, it resonated with one of my core beliefs: help, don’t hinder. The focus on goals, positive choices and collaboration aligned perfectly with my values. The staff and community were incredibly welcoming, offering support not just to students and families, but to each other as well. In times of need, they are all-hands, hearts and minds on deck.

How will you bring your experience as to your new role as principal in PWCS?

I have a diverse background. These experiences enable me to lead empathy, innovation, and a strong commitment to the community, ensuring that Dumfries is a place where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed. My time as an assistant principal has equipped me with a deep understanding of school operations, staff management, and student needs. I plan to leverage this experience to create a supportive and efficient school environment, ensuring that both teachers and students thrive.

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NOVEC’s Chris Fasenmyer, Zach Bell, Kyle Sarvis, Aaron Church and Robbie Studds left Northern Virginia Sept. 27 to help other electric coops with power restoration after Hurricane Helene. [Photo courtesy of Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative]
In light of Hurricane Helene's damage in southern Virginia and North Carolina, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) sent crews to restore power. The category 4 hurricane hit the southeastern region of the United States in late September and was the deadliest to strike the mainland U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Parts of North Carolina had access cut off due to flash floods and landslides. These two teams — one made of five men and the other of four — helped local cooperatives restore power to the more than 1.4 million coop households in these impacted areas. The team of five (pictured above) was first sent on Sept. 27 to southwestern Virginia, then, on Oct. 3, the crew was deployed to Lenoir, N.C. to assist Blue Ridge Energy. The four-man crew began in New Castle, Va., on Oct. 1, before being sent to assist Blue Ridge Energy to join the other crew on Oct. 2. Blue Ridge Energy, according to a NOVEC press release, had 6,800 miles of its 8,500 miles of lines damaged in Hurricane Helene.

“We do know there are parts of our system that will take weeks to repair or rebuild. In many cases, there is no road — not even dirt — where there once was one and our poles are down mountainsides or in the river in some cases,” Renee Walker, director of public relations at Blue Ridge, said.

The cost of Hurricane Helene's damage is in the billions, according to several reports and analyses. The death toll is above 200 people as well.

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Prince William County’s Fire Department is hosting an all-county safety expo. [Photo by Craig Adderley via Pexels]
Prince William County Fire and Rescue Services is hosting an All-County Public Safety Expo on Saturday at Pfitzner Stadium (7 County Complex Court, Woodbridge) from noon to 5 p.m.

There will be several different special guests, performances, challenges and local agencies present at the expo. Read more below for the event schedule.

Schedule

  • Noon to 12:10 p.m.: Opening ceremony (Ball Field 2)
  • 12:10 to 12:35 p.m.: Prince William County Pipes & Drums
  • 1 to 1:30 p.m.: Woodbridge High School Marching Band
  • 1:30 to 2 p.m.: Make the Right Call Presentation
  • 2 to 2:30 p.m.: Manassas Park High School Drum Line
  • 2:30 to 3 p.m.: Egg Drop Challenge (Demo Alley)
  • 3 to 3:30 p.m.: Vehicle Extrication
  • 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: School of Rock Haymarket House Band (Courtyard)

Exhibitors

FIRE & RESCUE

  • PWC Fire & Rescue System
    • Fire Marshal’s Office
    • HAZMAT
    • Life & Fire Safety Programs
    • Office of Emergency Management
    • Department of Fire & Rescue CPAT/Human Resources Office
  • City of Manassas Fire & Rescue Department
  • Manassas Park Fire & Rescue Department

LAW ENFORCEMENT

  • Prince William County Police Department
  • Prince William County Sheriff’s Office
  • Manassas Park Police Department
  • Town of Haymarket Police Department
  • Town of Occoquan Police Department
  • Quantico Police Department
  • Dumfries Police Department
  • Virginia State Police

LOCAL & REGIONAL AGENCIES

  • AirCare 1 (PHI Air Medical Manassas)
  • Department of Forestry
  • Virginia Forestry
  • Civil Air Patrol
  • Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital
  • Prince William District Scouts
  • Prince William County Community Foundation
  • NOVA Food Rescue
  • PWC Animal Services
  • Saving Prince William’s Littles
  • Area Agency on Aging
  • PWC Public Safety Communications 911
  • Office of Executive Management
  • Human Rights Commission
  • Community Services Wellness & Prevention
  • Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court Seals on Wheels
  • PWC Building Development Building Code Enforcement
  • Prince William Public Libraries’ Mobile Library Unit
  • Office of Housing and Community Development
  • Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry
  • Volunteer Prince William
  • Public Works/Solid Waste Management
  • Office of Procurement Services
  • PWC Department of Facilities & Fleet Management

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • PWCFRS Honor Guard
  • Prince William County Pipes & Drums
  • Antique Fire & Rescue Apparatus
  • MedStar Health – Bleeding Control VR Experience
  • PSCC 911 – Make the Right Call Presentation
  • Firefighter/EMS Gear Dress Up Station
  • Face Painting
  • Egg Drop Challenge

SPECIAL GUESTS

  • Sparky the Fire Dog
  • McGruff the Crime Dog
  • Smokey the Bear

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

  • Woodbridge High School Marching Band
  • Manassas Park High School Drum Line
  • School of Rock Haymarket House Band

FOOD TRUCKS

  • Two Smooth Dudes
  • Virginia Grill
  • Sweet Frog
  • Bella’s Cafe

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

 

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[Photo courtesy of Prince William County]
The Prince William County Balls Ford Road Interchange project was recently honored with the Project of the Year Award by a national program.

The National Capital Chapter of the Construction Management Project Achievement Awards Program (CMAA) awarded the project this honor following its completion in late April.

CMAA recognized the project for its "innovative construction management" and collaboration between Prince William County's Department of Transportation and ATCS, an engineering consulting firm, over the several years it took to finish the project.

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Welcome (or welcome back) to a new Potomac Local News series, “Meet the Principal.” With nearly two dozen new principals in Prince William County this school year, it’s important to get to know the folks in their new roles. Potomac Local has asked each principal the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below.

Today, get to know Chris McManus, the new principal of Antietam Elementary in Lake Ridge. He's a Prince William County native and an educator for nearly 20 years.

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