Prince William County and the Town of Occoquan has agreed to are in talks to move the current Visitor’s Center, located at 200 Mill Street in Occoquan, into a nearby kiosk.

Why it matters: The Occoquan Visitors Center serves as the key tourist welcome center in eastern Prince William County.

• It serves 17,000 people a year, according to county tourism spokesman Dan Cook.
• In 2015, officials talked about closing the center.

The new kiosk would be located next to the Mill House Museum, located at 413 Mill Street, according to town documents.

While the new kiosk is being constructed, the county could enter into a month-to-month lease agreement with the town to maintain operations of the Mill Street location until construction of the new kiosk is complete.

The draft lease agreement provides that the county will pay the town $1 per month during its term.

• The lease states that the building will continue in its use as a Visitor Center only during the construction of the new kiosk.

The county would bear the responsibility of all maintenance and repairs of the building as the leaseholder.

• The lease also provides that the county will absorb any responsibilities for damages incurred to the building during the term of the lease.
• The lease would automatically renew each month until the new kiosk opens.

The installation of the new kiosk will require approval by the Town’s Old and Historic District.

• It would also require approval from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, which could hear the matter next month.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will also need to review as the kiosk is located in its right-of-way on Mill Street.

The kiosk has met the minimum requirements of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, and a motion was made by the Town Council to authorize the signing of the lease agreement to move this project forward.

This story has been corrected.

DUMFRIES – The operators of a series of gaming facilities in Virginia now has its eye on Dumfries.

The Colonial Downs Group announced the acceptance of paperwork by the  Prince William County Clerk of the Court to begin the process of a Town of Dumfries voter referendum to allow a satellite wagering facility in accordance with a state code of Virginia.

Dumfries business owner, Linda Wilkins, submitted paperwork in favor of the facility, “I’m excited about this opportunity to bring a major entertainment facility to Dumfries. It will mean good paying jobs for our residents and more tax revenue for the town.”

Colonial Downs wants to open one of its Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in the town, similar to the one it opened at its horse track just off Interstate 64 in New Kent, Va. in April.

The facility features video gaming machines, also known as HHR machines, that look like slot machines. The operator says the games are a:

“competitive substitute for traditional casino-style games. The major difference that sets HHR apart from traditional casino-style games is the results of these games are not random.

And adds “The definition of pari-mutuel is the operator does not have a stake in the outcome of the wager and the net pool is returned to the players.”

Dumfries Mayor Derrick Wood said the town officials have been hands-off in this process at this time. Wood said while he doesn’t know enough about it yet, he is in favor of anything that can increase their economic development and attract people to their town.

“We must explore all options that can increase our tax base,” says Wood.

Virginia State Senator Scott Surovell (D-36)  is supportive of this project as well.

“Out of state gaming facilities have been funding their schools with Northern Virginians’ money for years and it’s about time we took steps to keep those dollars here,” says Surovell, “This facility would be a game changer for Dumfries economic development.”

Per Virginia law, the localities that have not already approved pari-mutuel wagering must require a voter referendum before such facilities can be located in their community. Signatures from at least 5% of qualified voters must be sent to and certified by the General Registrar.

Colonial Downs is currently in the midst of this signature drive in the town of Dumfries.

“About 7 out of 10 residents are excited to hear about the news,” says Wood.

Wood said the town has some history with Colonial Downs. Wood says, over 20 years ago residents rejected the idea of adding a Colonial Downs facility.

“The town has changed,” said Wood, “We have a younger demographic now that is more engaged.”

Councilwoman Cydny Neville said she invites  Colonial Downs officials to a meeting of the Town Council to make their pitch about what they would like to build in the town. So far, no one from the organization has done so.

“I’m open to having a discussion, but I have to protect the interests and the residents of the town,” said Neville.

The next Rosie’s with 700 HHR machines will open in Richmond this month. A third is under construction in Hampton with a planned opening in the fall.

Each Rosie’s also features simulcast horseracing, restaurant, bar and gift shop. The Virginia Racing Commission has currently established a statewide cap on HHR machines, limiting them to 3,000.

STAFFORD COUNTY --  The Stafford County community rallied together in an attempt to save Camille, a two-year-old French Bulldog.

In the end, however, the famed animal didn't survive her surgery.

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NOKESVILLE — After an unusually short season in 2018 due to unpredictable weather conditions, Burnside Farms 2019 Festival of Spring will return with a bang.

“This is going to be our best year ever,” says Leslie Dawley, proprietor, “It’s going to be incredible.”

Dawley said they planted 1.2 million tulip bulbs this year, the most they’ve ever had.

Dawley says the farms plan to open two weeks after the cherry blossoms bloom. She estimates the opening to be around the middle of April, but possibly sooner.

Dawley says once the farms are open, they will remain open for three-and-a-half to four weeks.

“We have over 400 varieties of tulips,” she said.

Dawley said when the farm opened six years ago, there were only 35,000 tulips and 15 varieties.

“We have grown each year,” she said.

Dawley said Burnside Farms is one of only a handful of places in the world where you can pick your own tulips and the only farm of its kind in our area.

The tulips begin in early bloom, then progress to mid and late bloom over the weeks that they are open, says Dawley.

“The best time to come is 1-2 weeks after our opening,” she says, “That’s when we have the most flowers.”

Dawley said the farm plants new flowers every single year.

She encourages visitors to come during the week if you want to avoid crowds as they are most busy on the weekends.

Dawley said the farm has a picnic area for families to hang out and a designated play area for children. She recommends visitors to wear farm-worthy shoes.

Dawley said a new addition this year is their theater, where they will be featuring the film, Tulip Mania. She said this film is about the first economic crash recorded due to tulips. Dawley said the movie was played in Amsterdam.

The farms are located at 11008 Kettle Run Road in Nokesville, near Patriot High School.

For field updates, or to answer any questions prior to coming, visit burnsidefarms.com.

Dawley said Burnside Farms would like to remain in their current location for the foreseeable future. That may be easier said than done as the county’s population continues to grow and farming fades from the landscape.

“There is very little farmland left in Prince William County,” she says.

The Rural Crescent Preservation Coalition is a movement to save the remaining farmland in Prince William County.

“This will keep us where we are,” said Dawley, “This would preserve attractive land that would otherwise go to houses. It’s a good thing.”

Originally identified in 1964, Prince William County’s Rural Crescent — between Quantico and Manassas National Battlefield Park — was drawn on a map to identify land to be preserved. The Prince William County Board of Supervisors in 1998 enacted the boundary line, which limited the number of homes that could be built on land inside the rural area.

Growing demands from farmers who say farming is no longer a way of life in Prince William County and who want to sell their land to developers have pushed for changes in the restrictions inside the rural area. Those restrictions which limit homes to one home per every 10 acres gives little incentive for developers to purchase land on which to build.

A 2013 study of the rural crescent by county officials which provided recommendations on changing the restrictions is sitting on a shelf collecting dust.

Dawley said it’s important for people to know about the Coalition and support it so that farms like theirs can continue to exist and serve the community.

Dawley said she is looking forward to this year’s season.

“It will be a special year.”

DUMFRIES — The Dumfries Town Council voted to appoint a new town manager in their February 19 meeting.

The council voted 5-1 on the appointment of Keith C. Rogers, Jr. as the new town manager. It’s a job that pays $133,900, according to the town’s 2019 budget.

Mayor Derrick Wood has been serving as the town’s interim manager for the last 8 months.

Rogers will begin his term on February 26. He hails Rogers hails from Richmond, where he worked as the city’s senior policy advisor. He held other roles there, too, such as senior assistant to the CEO, and assistant city clerk.

During his 12 years in Richmond government, Rogers oversaw:

• U.S. Department of Transportation Ladders of Opportunity Bus Rapid Transit Study
• Richmond’s $25 million Community Partner Grant Program
• The expansion of Richmond’s residential recycling program

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Town of Dumfries and excited to become a part of positive change and the excitement that’s currently happening in the Town,” says Rogers, “I am looking forward to working with the Town Council, Staff, and the community to move us closer to our 2030 vision.”

Rogers holds a master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Rogers is a member of the International City Managers Association and the Virginia Local Government Management Association. Rogers is also a past adjunct professor at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Political Science program at VCU.

“As a Council, we took our time to ensure Keith’s experience and values would help us to continue to develop the Town of Dumfries into a community where businesses want to locate, and families want to live, work, and play,” says Wood, “We believe that our community will become more involved, as Keith has demonstrated a commitment to engaging residents in municipal governing.”

Former town manager, Robbert Ritter, cleaned out his desk after an emergency council meeting last August.

Mayor Wood said the council needed someone that was more proactive and willing to work with them. Ritter had only completed a year and a half of his two-year contract.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY -- Prince William County is a big place. More than just the county of nearly a half-million people, there are five towns and two cities geographically located inside Prince William County’s borders.

When it comes to economic development, different businesses are drawn to different areas and around the county.  

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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — The Prince William County School Board like the idea of ads on school buses.

It met convened on February 7 and took a straw on this subject, and the board voted in favor of the advertising 5-3.

If the bill is signed into law, the board has voted to move forward with this initiative, placing ads on the sides of school buses much like those of OmniRide or Metro buses.

Pursuant to the House Bill 2222, from the General Assembly meeting in January, commercial advertising on the sides of the school bus between the rear wheels and rear of the bus is permitted as long as it follows these guidelines:

• It does not obstruct the name of the school division or the school bus number
• It is not sexually explicit
• It does not pertain to alcohol or food or beverages that do not meet the nutrition standards developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Additionally, these statutes also permit school related advertising in the same area of the bus, provided it does not obstruct the name of the school, division or number on the bus.

The legislation is sponsored by Delegate Israel O’Quinn (R-Bristol, Galax). It passed the House 68-29.

Tim Hugo (R-Fairfax, Prince William) was the only Delegate from Prince William County to support the measure.

The rest of the county delegation — Delegates Danica Roem, Hala Ayala, Elizabeth Guzman, Luke Torian, and Lee Carter all voted no on the measure.

After crossover, the bill is now being reviewed in the Senate’s Public Education Subcommittee.

The legislation is similar to a bill that died in 2013, proposed by Senator Bryce Reeves (R-Fredericksburg).  That bill did not allow advertising of any religious nature — something that the current bill does not address.

DUMFRIES -- For the very first time, the Mayor of Dumfries will host a ball.

Mayor Derrick Wood will host the "Black and White Ball" April 13 at 7 p.m. Wood says he is organizing this event to raise scholarship funds for high school seniors who want to attend trade colleges.

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WOODBRIDGE — Will Gong, a native of Woodbridge, launched his first sitcom, “Bunkheads.”

The show takes a comedic approach to the zombie apocalypse, as a teacher, actress, workout warrior, and wannabe rapper learn to live together as they take refuge in a bunker to save their lives.

Gong said he was inspired to create the show after watching the success of TV’s “The Walking Dead.”

“It’s so serious,” he said. “How could you take a zombie apocalypse and make it a sitcom?”

Gong said he had a bunker idea from a script he’d been working on and combined these ideas to create the concept for “Bunkheads.”

“What if four people were trapped in a bunker and they had to learn to live together? That would be really funny,” Gong said.

Gong said he didn’t want to play up the zombie apocalypse aspect, which is terrifying.

“My view on human nature is, we adapt, we evolve, and eventually, we get used to things,” says Gong. “How long would it take you to get used to the zombie apocalypse? You resort back to being grumpy about the people you’re living with. You kind of forget that there’s this horrific event going on outside.”

Gong said he began working on the script for “Bunkheads” during the presidential campaign of 2016.

“We’re all living in a world with people we don’t necessarily see eye to eye with and we have to find some common ground. Those are the things I wanted to explore,” Gong says.

Gong grew up in Woodbridge and graduated from C.D. Hylton High School in 1998. Gong said he’s loved film since he was a child. He said his high school drama teacher inspired him to go into film.

“My drama teacher, Ms. Clark was working on creating her own show. One was a short play that she’d developed and written herself and we were all learning how to perform it. I remember watching her and thinking, ‘she just made this up.’ I thought that was amazing and I want to do this on some level. I want to make stuff,” Gong said.

Gong said this was the first time he was able to see the process laid out so when he went to college, he had two ideas. “I was going to write film and make stuff or I was going to be a journalist,” he said.

Gong said he thought journalism would lead him into film, but later decided to devote himself fulltime to film.

Gong said that while “Bunkheads” is the first sitcom he has created, it is not his first time working in comedy. He said some of his favorite work has been producing comedy.

“When you’re stuck working on something for a year or two when it’s fun, it makes it go down a bit smoother. Comedy is a fun place to be,” says Gong.

Gong said the initial six episodes of “Bunkheads” were released on December 13. He said his vision is to build a fan base and grow the show bigger.

“This has been one of the most satisfying events of my life. It’s mine, and it’s oddly incredibly personal,” says Gong.

Gong said he has goals to one day create his own feature film and work on or develop a network show.

He said, for now, he’d love to make more “Bunkheads.”

“I’d like to keep expanding it, stretching its legs and getting more people to watch. That would be the best thing,” he said.

Gong said he loves Woodbridge and comes home every chance he gets. He said he has a comic book store that he loves and frequents when he’s in town where he knows all the guys.

“Every time I get a better phone, I drive around and take better pictures of where I used to live. This is my place, my people. That’s home to me. No matter where I go and all the places I travel to, that’s what I consider home,” he said.

DUMFRIES -- James McCarty has been appointed the new police chief in Dumfries.

McCarty was already serving as interim chief after former chief Nicholas Esposito resigned in October after about a year and a half on the job.

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