It was a conversation between the leaders of Prince William County's biggest governing bodies.

On April 21. Prince William County School Board Chairman At-large Babur Lateef said he was ‘confident’ schools would reopen on time in the fall. He made the comments during a conversation with Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair At-large Ann Wheeler, which was broadcast on Facebook.

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The amount of residential trash produced in Northern Virginia has surged with most people out of work and all Virginia students attending school from home.

According to John Poague, the owner of Patriot Disposal, trash amounts have risen by 30-40% due to people cleaning out their houses, food waste, and increased shipping. 

“It’s taking guys who would normally work a nine hour day, and now they work an eleven hour day,” Poague said. 

The trash increase, however, is not the only thing causing trash haulers’ grief.

Trash haulers, deemed essential workers during this crisis, have a greater risk of exposure to the new coronavirus, especially since they are dealing with potentially contaminated waste every day.

Although proper precautions, such as gloves and masks, seem to be a common-sense way to keep trash collectors healthy, they may not be as feasible as they seem. 

“We try to have [trash haulers] wear them as much as they can. On the average day they run 3-5 miles. Every stop they’re running out of the truck, and on a warmer day they’re sweaty. These aren’t suitable conditions for a face mask,” said Poague. 

Many trash hauling companies have put new restrictions in place. 

Republic Services, for example, will no longer collect waste that is not contained in bags, and Patriot Disposal will not be collecting bulk items. 

According to Poague, Loudoun County has not been cooperative in implementing safety measures for trash collectors. He said that Prince William and Fairfax counties, in comparison, have been very helpful with establishing guidelines, which have allowed them to temporarily stop the collection collecting bulk items and yard waste. 

“Loudoun refused to do anything to protect the workers, Loudoun County won’t even return phone calls. It’s like they don’t believe that the virus is out there. What they don’t understand is if our guys get sick, then the trash isn’t going to get picked up, and then it’s a bigger problem,” said Poague.

In a statement by the Loudoun County Government to Potomac Local News, it was emphasized that Loudoun County residents were urged to delay putting out yard waste, that they are closely monitoring the waste management operations across the region.

“The county, along with regional leaders, are closely monitoring the waste management operations across the region, and thus far, all data and industry recommendations indicate that with proper precautions, the collection of household waste and recycling, including yard waste, is able to continue,” said the statement.

While the situation may seem to be a simple matter, the Loudoun County Government states it simply cannot change trash and yard waste pickup requirements. A county ordinance requires that major haulers collect yard waste. The county government can’t do it because it does not operate a municipal trash collection service.

All trash collection within the county operates through contractors who typically contract with local homeowner’s associations. 

“In Loudoun, the Board of Supervisors would have to take action in order to change the County’s ordinance. The public process for changing a county ordinance has a number of requirements that can take time. At this point the Board has not yet take up the issue during one of their business meetings,” the county tells Potomac Local News. 

The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 is demanding that food workers be designated as first responders, and a strict limit be placed on the number of customers allowed in grocery stores.

The move comes as 14 grocery store workers and three food processing plant employees were diagnosed with the new coronavirus. And there are more cases waiting to be confirmed; union authorities tell Potomac Local News. 

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With school, work, and public facility closures, as well as the 131 cases of coronavirus in Prince William County alone, as of today, the world is feeling like a rather frightening place.

To alleviate some of that fear, the Prince William County Health District has created a coronavirus call center, where people can ask general questions about the virus or discuss what to do if they experience symptoms of the disease. 

The call center was set up in early March. Just two short weeks ago, they were footing six to seven calls a day. But now, they are receiving sixty to seventy, about a 900% increase.

The calls are answered by Medical Reserve Corps members, clinicians, and nursing students. The calls can be taken both in English and Spanish. 

“When people call, they are calling with a concern. At the center, we listen to their concerns and alleviate their COVID-19 fears with respect and dignity,” said Amanda Davis, the Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator for the Prince William County Health District. 

Once the call comes in, operators direct callers to four separate lines.

• The first is for those who do not have questions about coronavirus and want to contact the Prince William County Health District. 
• The second is for those who have general questions about coronavirus. 
• The third is for those who believe they have symptoms of coronavirus or physicians who have questions regarding a patient who may have it.
• The fourth is for medical provider offices who have general questions about coronavirus.

If someone contacts the center and thinks they have coronavirus they will be directed to a clinician who will triage them (ask about their symptoms, etc), and from there they will be told to monitor it if it gets worse and talk to their primary care physician. 

“We always want people to go to their primary care first before contacting the call center,” said Davis. 

To contact the call center, call 703-872-7759. Other general coronavirus information can be found on the Prince William County Health District website.

In addition to the 131 reported cases of coronavirus in Prince William County, locally, there are 13 cases in Manassas and two cases in Manassas Park.

Statewide, there are 2,012 cases (306 more than yesterday), 312 people hospitalized (66 more than yesterday), and 46 deaths (five more than yesterday).

Nationwide, there are 213,144 cases as of April 2 (27,043 more than the previous day) and 4,513 deaths (910 more than the previous day).

Since 2005, House of Mercy has been servicing the NoVA community through their food pantry and thrift store, but recently, their efforts have shifted to something new: making masks for local healthcare workers. 

The idea came in part from executive director Jessica Root’s mother, who is a nurse in New York. She suggested Root do something to prepare Virginia healthcare professionals for COVID-19. 

To do so, House of Mercy has created a ‘virtual assembly line’ to mobilize their volunteer’s mask production; it works in two parts. First, fabrics are being dropped off at the homes of volunteers who are skilled in sewing or cutting fabric. Then, the finished masks are picked up and donated to local hospitals and firehouses. Their goal is to make and donate 5,000 masks. 

“We are excited to lead this effort of keeping our volunteers engaged and bringing the community together in this time of need,” said Root.

Initially, House of Mercy was utilizing materials from their currently closed thrift store to make the masks, but have since run out. They are seeking both monetary and fabric donations, as well as partnerships with businesses like Joann Fabrics. However, if you have nothing to donate and are skilled in sewing or cutting fabric, you can become involved in the mask-making process. 

“Anyone can get involved,” said Root. 

To become involved in the process, or to learn about how to make a donation, email masks@houseofmercyva.org.

Prince William County has donated $30,000 to area food pantries in the wake of the spreading coronavirus. 

The donation is in an effort to ensure the most vulnerable families in the community have access to food. Several food banks have seen a decline in donations in the wake of the pandemic. 

The local state of emergency declared Prince William County Executive Christopher Martino allows the county to make the emergency decision without comment from the public, or debate among the members of the Board of County Supervisors. 

“There is nothing more important than helping our neighbors, especially those who rely on our local food banks for survival,” said Prince William County Board Chair At-large Ann Wheeler. “With children home from school and many working from home, the need is even greater. I urge all of our residents to help their neighbors and provide support as they are able during this trying time.”

Each of the food receiving food banks – Action In Community Through Service (ACTS), Northern Virginia Family Service’s SERVE Campus and the Haymarket Food Pantry – are receiving $10,000.

Those who wish to donate cash or food should contact one of these organizations or the organization of their choice directly on how to make a contribution.

Here’s a full list of food pantries in our region working to provide food to the community during the coronavirus outbreak.

Prince William County

-ACTS PWC: The food pantry is open 9 a.m. to -3 p.m. Monday throughFriday, with services both in English and Spanish. It is located at 3900 Acts Lane in Dumfries. No appointments are needed, and families can receive food once a month. There is also an additional home delivery service for seniors who are seventy and over and need food. To access the senior service, call (703) 441-8606 x288.

-Holy Family Catholic Church: The food pantry is open Monday and Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., it is located at 14160 Ferndale Road in Dale City. Appointments are required to receive food, and ID is needed. Call 703-730-1791 to make an appointment.

-Prince William County Public Schools: Select county schools are serving free breakfast and lunch to all children and teenagers up to 18 years old,  Monday through Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. Children must be present with parents to receive food. The schools participating in the food distribution are as follows: Elementary: Dale City, Fitzgerald, John D. Jenkins, Mullen, Tyler, Coles, Yorkshire. Middle School: Beville, Graham Park, Hampton, Fred Lynn, Lake Ridge, Marsteller, Parkside, Potomac, Rippon, Stonewall, Woodbridge. High School: Forest Park.

-House of Mercy: The food pantry is open Mon-Fri from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is located at
8170 Flannery Court in Manassas. No appointments or ID needed to receive food. They can be contacted at (703) 659-1636.

Manassas 

-Bull Run Unitarian Universalists: The dates that the food pantry is open varies by week, more information can be found at bruu.org/events-calendar. The pantry is located at 9350 Main Street in Downtown Manassas. They can be contacted at (703) 361-6269.

-St. Thomas United Methodist Church: The food pantry is open every Saturday morning from 9-11:30 a.m., and is located at 8899 Sudley Road in Manassas. Families can go and receive food once a month. They can be contacted at (703) 368-5161.

Fredericksburg

-Community Ministry Center: The food pantry is open on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday from 9 a.m. – noon, Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon, and Saturday from 9 a.m to noon. It is located at 918 Bragg Rd in Fredericksburg, Village Square Shopping Center. The pantry can be contacted at (540) 412-6667.

-Peace United Methodist Church: The food pantry is open on Thursdays between 9:30 a.m. and noon, and is located at 801 Maple Grove Drive. The pantry can be contacted at (540) 548-1631.

-Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank: The food bank runs a mobile pantry that delivers to select locations, and those locations are subject to change due to the coronavirus.

More information about the mobile pantry can be found at fredfood.org/mobilepantry. They also keep a detailed list of the food banks still open during the coronavirus outbreak

Stafford County

-S.E.R.V.E: The food pantry is open on Mon & Wed from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., and Tues & Thurs from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is located at 15 Upton Lane in Stafford. Families can receive food from the pantry once a month. Curbside food pick-up is also available.

Spotsylvania County

-Wilderness Community Church: The food pantry is open on Saturday’s from 7:30-10:30 a.m., and is located at 10501 Plank Road in Spotsylvania. There is only curbside pick-up, with absolutely no exiting the vehicle due to health precautions. They can be contacted at (540) 972-8808.

-Christ Church Episcopal: The food pantry will be open on Mar. 24 from 10 a.m.- noon, and is located at 8951 Courthouse Road in Spotsylvania. Food will be brought to the vehicles of those who need it. More information about later food pantry dates can be found online. They can be contacted at (540)-582-5033.

-Zion United Methodist Church: The food pantry is open on the third Thursday of every month from 4 to p.m. . It is located at 10501 Plank Road in Spotsylvania. They can be contacted at (540) 582-6532.

Prince William County has become a more diverse place over the years, and now, so is its court system.

Six new judges, all of whom are people of color, have been appointed to various courts in Northern Virginia following an effort by Virginia Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-2nd, Stafford, Woodbridge) to diversify the ethnicities of the judges appointed to serve the courts. Dubbed ‘Diversifying the Bench,’ the effort aims to “build a strong pipeline of underrepresented people applying to judge appointmentship,” according to the lawmaker.

Among the newly appointed judges is Carlos Laboy, who will serve on the Prince William County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Once Laboy’s term begins on June 1, he will be the first Latino judge appointed in Prince William County.

Laboy grew up in a military family, traveling throughout most of his childhood, and settling in Prince William County in 2001. He taught biology and chemistry at Gar-Field High School for a year and then went on to graduate from The George Washington University School of Law. Laboy currently serves as a substitute district court judge in Prince William County.

“I plan to do the very best I can for [Pirnce William County]. I want the citizens to know they don’t have to be afraid to come to court,” said Laboy.

Other newly appointed judges include Sonya Sacks, Marcel Jones, Jackie Lucas, and Lorrie Sinclair Taylor.

Sinclair Taylor, who will serve on the Loudoun County bench starting in April, will be the first African-American judge appointed in Loudoun County. She grew up in New York and came to Virginia in 1989 on a track scholarship from George Mason University.

She then went on to pursue a law degree from the College of William and Mary, where she graduated from in 1996 and received the Thurgood Marshall Award for Distinguished Public Service. Until recently, Sinclair Taylor had a law firm, along with two other attorneys, called Biberaj Snow & Sinclair, PC, which closed on Dec. 31, 2019.

“As a child of immigrants, I understand the value of hard work, commitment, and dedication, and I utilize those values daily,” wrote Sinclair Taylor on her Avvo social media profile.

The path to greater racial diversity on the bench began with a 2016 study by the Virginia Coalition for Racial Diversity in the Justice System. The study looked at the demographics of the Northern Virginia area and compared it to the demographics on the bench, subsequently finding that the diversity of the area was not reflected in the courts, according to Jackie Lucas, another judge who is being appointed to the Prince William County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

“Diversity on the bench will help improve public trust, the appearance of fairness, and it creates access to justice. You…need people on the bench who have an awareness that the law sometimes works differently for minority groups,” said Foy.