Since its founding in 1992, BEACON For Adult Literacy has grown to an organization that serves over 400 adult students while remaining true to its core mission of helping adults learn to read.

While the organization was preparing for its spring semester of classes, the coronavirus pandemic halted business as usual at the nonprofit organization. BEACON innovated and continued to deliver its classes online.

BEACON’s day-to-day operation relies heavily on its 130 volunteer instructors who teach in classrooms at one of the five locations in and around Manassas. BEACON classes primarily teach English but they also offer preparation for citizenship tests.

With their students coming from over 49 countries and a large variety of educational experiences, teachers have to be prepared to help students from a wide range of backgrounds.

In March as the coronavirus spread, BEACON stopped its class sign up and refunded any registration fees it had taken for its Spring semester. BEACON Executive Director Jen Mora Zuñiga and her staff came together and created an online class structure. Using the video conferencing system Zoom, BEACON volunteer teachers along with tech volunteers have been conducting classes during the quarantine.

“BEACON had never explored online programs before but we were very surprised by how smooth the transition was”, said Zuñiga.

With classes being online, attendance has been up to because students who may have had difficulty with transportation or getting child care don’t have to leave their homes and can access Zoom right on their phone.

“As we were facing the global pandemic, BEACON switched to remote learning; online learning helps to keep improving my educational skills because I don’t want to fall behind. My writing and vocabulary skills have significantly improved. Also, [BEACON] classes have provided me with effective communication skills that help me at work.” said Gunel Aydinova, is a BEACON student who is trying to improve her English skills so she can get certified in Information Technology.

Students with limited English language skills have felt even more negative impacts because they are not able to understand more written documents that have been put out to deal with the transition. Whether it be more e-mails from their children’s teachers, or reading health preventative measures, crucial information is harder to get if one can’t comprehend the language in which it’s written.

The organization has the vision to continue offering some online classes while going back to traditional classes at some point in time in order to serve more students. As with all non-profits, BEACON has been hit financially which makes offering these programs more challenging.

The organization was selected for the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington’s 2020-2021 class of nonprofits which increases its visibility, allows it to get more philanthropic donors, and get access to numerous professional development opportunities. The Catalogue is the region’s only locally-focused guide to giving and volunteering.

BEACON was founded by Benedictine Sister Eileen Heaps to teach a few illiterate adults to read. The organization has grown to serve over 400 adult students while remaining true to its core mission of helping adult learners reach their educational goals.

Donations for the program are accepted on the charity’s website.

Robert “Bob” Seefeldt, long time Prince William County resident and husband to former Board of Supervisors chair Kathleen Seefeldt, died on May 23, 2020 at the age of 87 while receiving hospice care.

A native of Marietta, Minnesota, Bob moved to the National Capital region for a position at the national headquarters of Future Farmers of America (FFA) in Alexandria. Eventually, Bob and Kathy moved their family to Prince William County in 1970.

Although the stereotype of a political spouse is one that usually boils down to the spouse being a surrogate for the elected official, Bob was truly his own person who cared deeply for this community.

While he supported his wife Kathy’s service as an elected official on the Prince William Board of Supervisors from 1976 to 1999, Bob worked diligently in his career with FFA which had him traveling the country. He also volunteered constantly with Good Shepard Lutheran Church which included global mission work in Slovakia.

One organization that Bob was deeply passionate about was the Arc of Greater Prince William (Arc). The Arc is a non-profit that is committed to providing opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities to achieve their greatest potential growth and independence. Karen Smith, the executive director of the Arc recalled how Bob first got involved.

“Bob’s pastor, Bob Allard, was chair of our Board of Directors. One day in the early 1970s, Bob was talking to Pastor Allard about his difficulties finding people who could put together the medals FFA gave out. Allard pitched the idea of Arc clients coming to work for FFA and put those medals together which Bob enthusiastically agreed to. Work programs at the time were rare, it was truly one of the first opportunities in the country for our folks. Bob would take clients in our weaving work program out to lunch every year and grew close with many individuals,” recalled Smith. “He truly brought a great caring perspective that helped our growing agency achieve success for our client.”

Bob served on the Arc Board of Directors, helping to raise money for its operations.

“Bob truly cared about his fellow human being, both local and global, and devoted his life to making other’s lives better. He will be missed dearly by his family and his friends,” said family friend Eileen Thrall.

A private service will be held on June 10, 2020 followed by interment at Quantico National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arc of Greater Prince William or the National FFA Foundation.

Over the coming months, Prince William residents will be asked for their input as leaders work to update the county’s comprehensive plan. 

Updated every five years, the comprehensive plan guides the growth and development of the community. It articulates the goals and policies that the Board of County Supervisors relies on to make informed land-use development decisions and investments in public infrastructure. 

It also presents a blueprint for creating a great quality of place, quality of the community, and quality of life based on the county’s vision for its future.

On Wednesday, May 20, the Prince William Conservation Alliance held a program via Zoom to educate the public on the Comprehensive Plan.

Prince William County Planning Commission Chairman Bill Milne, who represents the Neabsco District in Dale City, led the program by speaking about the role of the Comprehensive Plan as the roadmap for land use in Prince William County. 

As the county’s population continues to climb to over 465,000 residents, and with the Amazon HQ2 project in Arlington that expected to bring 50,000 new workers to the region, Prince William will continue to feel the pressure to develop new homes.

The state code of Virginia outlines legislative intent when it comes to laws and statues of every county, town, or city is supposed to follow, especially when it comes to planning, zoning, or subdivision of land within the boundaries…..Every local government is required to prepare and adopt a Comprehensive Plan”, said Milne.

The Planning Commission will take up the topic of the comprehensive plan update when the board meets again for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown, on June 17. Since five hearings were canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, there will be additional hearings to catch up.

Social distancing, face masks, and other safety precautions will be taken during the meetings, which are normally held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at the Prince William County Government Center, at 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge.

Prince William County originally established its Planning Commission in 1954 and reestablished it in 1972 in an effort to guide the Board of County Supervisors on land-use decisions. 

“We are required to review the [Comprehensive] plan every five years. We are in that process now…..We are always reviewing some aspects of that plan in order to manage the dynamic change here in Prince William County,” Milne said. 

Milne emphasized that public comment is always sought with each review and that citizens are allowed to comment online, can attend Commission work sessions to hear questions, and speak during public comment time at meetings.

The Comprehensive Plan is organized in chapters regarding a specific issue related to the physical development of Prince William. These chapters are grouped into four main categories: Long-Range Land Use, Community Development, Infrastructure and Facilities, and Preservation and Conservation.

Prince WilliamConservation Alliance Executive Director Kim Hosen facilitated the program.

There were over 40 people in attendance with several members of the Planning Commission as well as Prince William County Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry on the call.

Executive Director Kim Hosen thanked everyone for coming and reminded everyone about Prince William Conservation Alliance’s next event which is “Urban Planning in the Time of Corona”.

This program will feature Senior Vice President of the Urban Land Institute Tom Eitler as he provides observations about the future of land use. This event is happening on Thursday, May 28 at 7 p.m.  To RSVP, go to pwconserve.org/events/index.html#eitler.

On Saturday, over 100 people came together in front of the old Manassas Courthouse to peacefully protest Governor Ralph Northam’s stay-at-home orders. Small business owners, elected officials, candidates seeking elected office, pastors, and community activists all spoke and called for the coronavirus restrictions — now largely affecting only Northern Virginia — to be lifted.

U.S. flags, political signs, and stickers could be seen all around the courthouse grounds as the protesters clapped and cheered. The protest was organized by two Prince William County residents Christopher Lee and Zack McDonald. Lee, an engineer, and McDonald, a physical therapist organized the rally to engage people on the governor’s stay-at-home order, extended in Prince William County and Manassas until at least Friday, May 29.

Both say the government has overstepped its role by issuing orders that prevented small “nonessential” businesses from opening and church congregations from holding regular meetings.

McDonald said he hoped this protest will open the eyes of civil magistrates, and get them to trust Virginians to practice safe social-distancing measures in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and allow business owners to reopen, to provide for their customers and their families. 

McDonald used Facebook to organize the event, netting the attention of those who spoke at the event, to include former Prince William County Delegate Rich Anderson, Brentsville Supervisor Jeanine Lawson, Republican Senate candidate Tom Speciale, Prince William Republican chair candidate Tim Parrish, 10th Congressional District candidates Alicia Andrews and Jeff Dove, as well as a conservative activist and blogger Greg Letiecq.

Chris Concannon, of Warrenton and an organizer for the recently held “ReOpen Fauquier County” rally, stood and read aloud the text of Northam’s Executive Order 55, signed on March 30, initially requiring Virginians to stay at home until at least June 30.

Protesters resist the mask

When he read the section that orders people “must at all times maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person unless they live in the same household,” Concannon quipped, “look at us now! Let’s just call ourselves one big family.”

Concannon went on to state that the restrictions had “flushed the economy down the toilet.”

More than 560,000 Virginians filed for unemployment since the pandemic began in March, according to the state unemployment commission. More than 400,000 state residents continued to claim unemployment insurance as of May 16. Most of them once worked in restaurants and hotels, all of which have hit hard by the state-imposed economic shutdown. 

Former Prince William County Delegate Rich Anderson encouraged the crowd to defend their rights. Anderson served in the General Assembly in Richmond from 2010-2017 and lost his seat to current Delegate Hala Ayala (D-51).

“The governor has grabbed power that is not granted to him by the Constitution,” Anderson said referring to the lockdown orders.

When Anderson brought up the possibility of facemasks being required for all Virginians, many members of the crowd shouted “no!”

“I took an oath while serving in the military to defend against domestic threats. It’s time to protect against domestic threats,” said Anderson in closing. 

Last week, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam hinted that during a press conference today, he would order all Virginians to wear face masks. If he does, the order would come after the CDC now recommends wearing a cloth facemask after it found a large number of people who have contracted the new coronavirus lack symptoms (are asymptomatic) can still transmit the virus to others through speaking, coughing, or sneezing.

Northam’s order would also come after he made an appearance on the Virginia Beach oceanfront Saturday afternoon without a mask, posing for selfies with beachgoers.

The Manassas rally also served a campaign stump speech for Anderson, who is now one of three candidates running to become the head of the Republican Party of Virginia.

Tim Parrish, a Woodbridge resident who seeks to lead the Prince William GOP, urged elected officials to let the businesses that can open safely do so. Parrish spoke about how people of all backgrounds are “hurting,” and called out elected officials directly.

“While [elected officials] tell us to stay home, you collect paychecks from our tax dollars,” said Parrish.

Protesters held homemade signs with statements that read, “what will you do without freedom,” “stop tyranny,” and “my father feeding me is essential.” Several families were in attendance with children holding up signs, too.

Prince William Sheriff’s deputies monitored the event on the grounds of the courthouse.

Cases increase, hospitalizations decline

The rally comes as Northam declined requests from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and the Manassas City Council to allow restaurants to reopen in time for the Memorial Day weekend, with outdoor seating, at 50% of a restaurant’s normal seating capacity.

In the past week, coronavirus testing has been ramped up in Prince William County with the county government, and the Manassas City Government, offering free tests at multiple locations. The Northern Virginia region now leads the nation in new coronavirus cases in the wake of increased testing.

A total of 94 people in Prince William County have died from coronavirus. There have been nine deaths in Manassas and five in Manassas Park.  There have been a combined 5,812 reported cases of coronavirus in all three jurisdictions.

At 1,376 on Memorial Day, the number of Virginians hospitalized for coronavirus is at its lowest since April 23. Of the 2,954 ventilators available in hospitals throughout the state, 611 were in use on Memorial Day, equalling 21% of all ventilators.

Tensions among Prince William leaders on the rise

A reporter’s email to a group of Prince William County leaders, to include Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large Ann Wheeler, sent on Thursday, May 21, sparked a series of events that had several high-ranking officials claiming Wheeler wanted to put a stop to the rally before it began.

The email from the Prince William Times stated Prince William County Sheriff Glendell Hill granted permission for the rally to take place on the grounds of the courthouse, asserting the sheriff had issued permits for the event.

In fact, no permits were issued to the group, rally organizer Chris Lee told Potomac Local News. Rather, Lee and his fellow organizers had briefed Hill and his staff on Thursday, May 21, as a courtesy, about their plans to rally at the courthouse.

The land is a publicly-owned space and no such permit is required for protesters to gather.

After reading the email, Wheeler told Potomac Local News she called Hill to ask if, in fact, he issued any permits for the rally. He hadn’t.

Similarly, no permits were issued when a similar rally to keep the 287(g) program took place outside the Prince William County Government Center on Tuesday, May 19.

The next morning, Lee was interviewed on the morning show on WMAL Radio in Washington, D.C. about the upcoming rally. Wheeler told Potomac Local News she heard the interview and heard what sounded like Lee characterizing Sheriff Hill as a supporter of the rally.

Afterward, she dialed the sheriff’s office again and asked Hill if, in fact, he supported the rally.

Hill declined to comment for this story, however, multiple sources told Potomac Local News that the independently-elected sheriff declined to respond to her, and told Wheeler, “I work for the people, not for you.”

Lee told Potomac Local News that a sheriff’s deputy called him the shortly after the interview to ask him if he told the radio the hosts that Hill was a rally supporter. Lee followed up that call with an email to county officials.

“Capt. Hardeman contacted me earlier today regarding a radio interview that I conducted with WMAL at [8:15 a.m.] regarding the ‘ReOpen Rally’ that will be held tomorrow. He mentioned to me that some of you supervisors (or your staff) had called him and were agitated at what you thought I said regarding the [Prince William County] Sheriff staff. Specifically, Capt. Hardemen asked me whether or not I said in the interview that the [Prince William County] Sheriff sheriff’s office supported our rally.

Consistent with my discussion with the sheriff and his staff yesterday, where he was clear to support our right to protest and right to free speech, but not the rally or its message, specifically.

From the tone of that meeting, I NEVER said in the interview that the [Prince Willima County] sheriff supported our rally.”

As Friday wore on, the halls of local government became ever more abuzz about the upcoming rally. A 1 p.m., Prince William County Executive Christopher Martino sent a group email to county officials notifying them of the upcoming rally, confirming that, despite the reporter’s email assertion the day before, rally organizers didn’t need permits.

About a half-hour later, Brentsville District Supervisor Jeanine Lawson sent an email to Martino that stated:

“I’m very bothered to hear from Sheriff Hill this morning that Ann put you up to calling him and suggesting people be arrested at the rally tomorrow.

Had I or another board member called you with same request, I certainly hope you would have declined to make the call.  Further, a call like that should have been a directive by the Board, not just the Chair.”

Wheeler told Potomac Local News that at no time did she ask anyone to be arrested at Saturday’s rally in Manassas, nor did she ask the police to arrest anyone at the May 19 rally outside the county government center.

Both rallies took place despite the fact that Northern Virginia, including Prince William County and Manassas, continues to be under Northam’s stay-at-home orders.

Wheeler was one of multiple Northern Virginia leaders to ask to leave Northern Virginia out of a majority of cities, towns, and counties that reopened, entering the first phase of the governor’s reopening plan.

At her request announced on May 10, nonessential businesses were to remain closed and residents continue under Northan’s stay-at-home order.

A Board of County Supervisors divided

The exchange comes at a time when the Prince William Board of County Supervisors is seemingly unable to compromise.

Democrats control the Board with a majority 5-3 vote, and they appointed 14 people to various lower boards and commissions during the Board of County Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, May 19. One of those controversial appointments was to the county’s jail board was Virginia Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (D-31, Dale City, Fauquier), and it came with fierce opposition from Republicans on the Board of County Supervisors. Guzman has vowed to end the county’s 287(g) program which trains local jail employees to check the immigration status of those charged with a crime.

It’s the same program that last week identified 35-year-old Walner Alberto Pichinte Echeverria, of Frederick, Md., of being in the U.S. illegally. He is charged with felony hit and run in the death of 62-year-0ld Alberto Anthony Marino, of Bristow, who was struck by two cars while crossing Sudley Road on May 6. Police are still searching for the second vehicle that struck Marino.

Hill spent more than an hour at that Board of County Supervisors meeting, prior to its appointment of Guzman, addressing supervisors about the jail board, of which he serves as chairman, by law. He begged supervisors not to “politicize” the jail board by making an appointment based on a controversial issue like immigration.

Prince William County Police Chief Barry Barnard is set to retire at the end of the month. He’s a member of the jail board and would be replaced on the board in the interim by Deputy Chief of Police Jarad Phelps. However, Phelps is expected to interview for the top cop job, and any action he could take on the jail board as it relates to the 287(g) program could affect whether or not he gets the job.

In the final hours of the marathon 12-hour meeting, Lawson motioned that, instead of Phelps, Republican Supervisor Yesli Vega — a former Alexandria police officer, a reserve Prince William County Sheriff’s Deputy, and the first Latina to be elected to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors — be appointed to the jail board until a new police chief is hired to replace Vega on the board.

Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin blocked that move and, in a substitute motion, nominated fellow Democrat and Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye to the jail board, citing his work with the NAACP and his work with local law enforcement as his qualifications to be considered for appointment to the jail board.

Eventually, both Lawson and Franklin rescinded their motions and the meeting adjourned. The Board of County Supervisors is set to meet again on June 2.

Potomac Local News President Publisher Uriah Kiser contributed to this report. 

Every day, thousands of cars travel along Route 234 to get from one end of Prince William County to the other. Crossing the Occoquan River near Manassas, one can see the Lake Jackson Dam standing steady as it has for over 90 years.

Residents who live in the single-family homes that make up the Lake Jackson community get to enjoy the lake the dam created for both recreation and aesthetic value. While many people in the area appreciate waterfront living, the rising costs to maintain the dam, the safety risk it poses have county officials concerned.

Constructed in 1928 to generate electricity, Lake Jackson Dam, located about four miles from Downtown Manassas, was built with two turbines that generated power until the late 1950s when it was deemed financially unfeasible. Log cabins were built around the lake during this time as summer homes, which would serve as a precursor to the 35 homes that are now protected by the dam (according to this county presentation), inside the Lake Jackson community.

Prince William County took ownership of the dam in the 1970s. Today, after heavy rains, county staff often drives out to the dam to open the radial gate as the water rises, taking pressure off of the structure. This lets out more water so it can continue its journey down past the Town of Occoquan and into the Potomac River.

The gate, however, is where the problem lies.

Those county government employees work the gate incur great risk having to walk across a concrete catwalk that spans the top of the dam while dealing with the elements, to get to the antiquated gear system that lifts the 25-foot-tall gate.

Before going out on the catwalk, it’s commonplace for workers to don a life jacket and notify fire and rescue crews as a safety precaution, in case they fall into the river.

Waiting for the gate to lift up can take up to 45 minutes as the water rushes below. In order to ensure this occurs when needed, county staff is paid overtime to monitor the dam.

Over the last three and a half years, the county paid $368,441 on gate operation. The dam requires constant maintenance from fixing weather-worn patches of concrete to keeping the gate system working.

In the Fiscal year 2019, the county spent $176,000 alone maintaining the dam with costs projected to continue to increase over the years. All funding for the dam comes from the stormwater management fee paid by county taxpayers.

A study outlines options for the future of the dam

At a town hall meeting held by Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega on March 12, Prince William County Environmental Services Division Chief Marc Aveni spoke about the possible changes to the Lake Jackson Dam.

After a heavy rain, opening the gate protects the 35 homes from moderate flooding. Due to the high safety risk and reoccurring financial cost, Aveni said, the county had a study conducted by engineering firm Dewberry to come up with some options for the aging structure.

The study produced several options that would change the dam to some degree — options that Aveni said he would recommend to the Prince Willaim Board of County Supervisors.

One option is to install a new gate with a computerized mechanism that would allow it to be operated by remote control. While this option would have the least impact on the community, it would cost a hefty $2.5 million to operate with reoccurring operating costs.

Other options include discontinuing gate operations during storm events, replace the gate with a lower dam or demolish the dam all together to allow the lake to turn back into a river.

All options have varying costs, said Aveni.

The choice that would best prepare the county for the future would have the removal of the gate, catwalk, catwalk piers that support the walkway, and then replace it with a concrete spillway, the study notes.

It would also cost the most upfront with a price tag of $3.5 million but it would lower operating and maintenance costs for the long term considerably. With this option, the county may need to purchase up to six homes with federal funds from FEMA.

 

Residents have mixed opinions on what should happen with the dam. County employees tell us they’ve had multiple meetings with area residents to make sure their concerns are heard

Some do not want to see any change and have called for a more flexible option.

For now, these are only recommendations as there is no current plan to do anything with the dam, yet.

With the current downturn in the economic climate, says Aveni, this project will not be added to the county’s Capital Improvement Plan any time soon.

Residents of Prince William County’s Coles District got their first look at a new $55 million interchange county leaders are planning to build at Prince William Parkway and Brentsville Road, near Manassas. 

Once the interchange is in place, two signal lights on Prince William Parkway, at Brentsville and Dumfries roads, will be removed.

Rick Canizales, the county’s transportation director spoke about an interchange project in front of about 50 people who attended a town hall meeting hosted by Supervisor Yesli Vega at the Lake Jackson Volunteer Fire Department on March 12. 

The approved design for the interchange would make the road safer, reduce congestion and prepare the road for service for the next twenty years, said Canizales. The full cost of the project is being covered by a grant from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA). The project is scheduled to be completed by 2023.

A public hearing about the project was scheduled for March 25, however, the meeting was canceled to social distancing measures instituted after the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Officials are now exploring the possibility of holding a virtual town hall meeting in place of the March 25 meeting.

“We will make that determination with Supervisor Vega’s input soon,” Canizales told Potomac Local News.

County officials describe the project:

The proposed concept will include the construction of two bridge(s) over Route 234, replacing the signalized intersections of Dumfries Road (Route 234 Bus) and Prince William Parkway (Route 294) /Brentsville Road.

The new bridges will provide free flow movements fo southbound Prince William Parkway (Route 234) to eastbound Prince William Parkway (Route 294), as well as westbound Prince William Parkway (Route 294) to southbound Dumfries Road (Route 234).

The delays currently experienced at the two existing signals on Prince William Parkway (Route 234) in both directions will be eliminated. The intersection of Prince William Parkway ( Route 294) at Bradley Cemetery Way will be converted to a continuous Green-T intersection that allows eastbound Prince William Parkway (Route 294) to be free flowing.

A signal will be activated to allow Bradley Cemetery Way left turns onto eastbound Prince William Parkway ( Route 294). Brentsville Road will be realigned with Dumfries Road (Route 234 Bus). Westbound Prince William Parkway (Route 294) will have free right turns towards the intersection with Dumfries Road (Route 234 Bus).

Brentsville Road will be rerouted to align with Dumfries Road (Route 234 Bus) and the new intersection with the ramp from southbound Route 234 will operate as another continuous Green-T intersection with northbound Brentsville traffic free-flowing.

A signal will be activated to allow southbound Route 234 left turns onto northbound Brentsville Road/Dumfries Road (Route 234 Bus).

The intersection of Bradley Cemetery Lane and Dumfries Road ( Route 234 Bus) will be signalized and will take ramp traffic to and from northbound Prince William Parkway (Route 234) The Route 294 to Route 234 existing Shared Use Path (SUP) [for runners, walkers, and bicyclists] will be rerouted thru the interchange and tie back to the existing SUP on the south side of Route 234.

A new SUP will be constructed along extended Dumfries Road (Route 234 Bus) to meet future SUP shown in the County Comprehensive plan along the west side of Dumfries Road (Route 234 Bus) at Bradley Cemetery Way.

Officials were set to give final approval for the project in May and award a construction contract in August. It’s unclear how the coronavirus might affect the timeline of the project.

The interchange at Brentsville Road is one of two new improvements that the county’s department of transportation is working on. The department will build a new $24.2 million quadrant intersection at Prince William Parkway and University Boulevard, near the George Mason University Science and Technolgy Campus, that it hopes will reduce traffic congestion and lead to fewer crashes there.

The department is also building a new $145 million diverging diamond interchange at the intersection of Prince William Parkway and Balls Ford Road.

Food, families, and fun: A retired soldier hopes those three words will bring people together to change how the community views its military veterans.

This Saturday, March 14, Veterans Grow Virginia will host its second Veteran Business pop-up at the Dale City Volunteer Fire Department, located at 13511 Hillendale Drive. Over 40 veteran-owned businesses will showcase their products to the community.

The highlight of the event: a food truck rodeo featuring veteran-owned food trucks that will serve up tasty food. Families are encouraged to come out and get some eats, as well as shop multiple vendors. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free of charge.

In 2018, Virginia had over 680,000 veterans living in the state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, with over 40,000 living in Prince William County.

This event is part of a greater initiative to support veteran-owned businesses by changing the way the public sees veterans. Donnell Johns, founder of Veterans Grow Virginia believes veterans can help drive not only the economy but how society sees them as well.

“I want to change the perception of veterans from one of homelessness and suicide to one of the passionate business owners who provide great products,” said Johns.

Johns is a retired Command Sergeant Major who served 26 years with the Army National Guard. His last assignment brought him here to Virginia where he saw a need to connect residents with the goods and services produced by many veteran businesses, as well as encourage networking among the owners.

He discovered the Veterans Grow Texas group from a business partner, and then took that model to our area and started Veterans Grow Virginia.

A portion of the proceeds from Saturday’s event will go to the Prince William Community Foundation, a veteran founded non-profit that works to combat child hunger. More information about the event is online.

Working with a non-profit company, one local group of students used their artistic abilities to connect with refugee children halfway around the world.

Nearly 50 million children across the globe have been forced to flee their homes due to horrible fighting and intense poverty according, to Unicef. With few personal items to help capture their life story, few know there are those who care about them.

Fifteen C.D. Hylton High School students set out to change this.

Hylton Art teacher Alison Willis introduced her students to a non-profit known as the Memory Project. They watched a video about Malaysian culture and their everyday life to learn more about the society in which these children grow up in.

At their school in Woodbridge, they then used colored pencils and paint to create portraits of Malaysian children while looking at photos of the refugees. These portraits will be soon be mailed to the children in Malaysia to enjoy.

“The students absolutely loved this project. In fact, they wanted to work with another country again this year and make more portraits. We even talked about doing this for children in hospitals or the elderly,” said Willis.

According to the Memory Project’s website, the organization was founded in 2004 to promote intercultural awareness, friendship, and kindness between children around the world through the universal language of art.

Every child who receives a portrait has a different story but all children in the program are either facing or overcoming difficult challenges, and they inspire humanity with their courage and resilience. The Memory Project has helped over 250,000 children & teens around the world touch each other’s lives through art.

For any art student or art teacher who would like to get involved with this project, please go to memoryproject.org for guidelines and more information.