Manassas Park is moving forward with plans for its own library and voted Tuesday to approve the Library Strategic Plan and Policies.

City Manager Laszlo Palko addressed the council members briefly before they had a brief discussion and a final vote.

The Library’s Strategic Plan is a document of goals and strategies for the next five years.

Some of the policies laid out in the plan included what to do about fees and fines. The City will not charge overdue fines but will charge a fee for lost books. According to the plan, every Manassas Park resident is eligible for a library card.

According to city documents, “Those who own property, own a business, work, or attend school in Manassas Park are also eligible.” Also, residents in the jurisdictions in the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), including Prince William County and Manassas City, are eligible for reciprocal accounts.

Councilmember Donald Shuemaker, who is also on the Prince William Library Board of Trustees, warned fellow members of the city’s Governing Body to be careful about the section about details policies about those who would donate money to the city in hopes a building, such as the city’s the new library planned to open in 2023, to be named after them.

“Tread lightly,” he warned, as the Prince William Libary Board had an experience where somebody wanted to name a room in a library facility, gave money, and the request was declined because she had no strong connection with the library.

Shuemaker urged the city to adopt a policy that states, if someone’s name is going to be attached to a new building, that person should have some tie to the city. Manassas Park doesn’t want the appearance of someone buying access, he added.

Last year, General’s Ridge Golf Course closed and control of the property was turned over to the city. It remained the golf course Bloom’s Park and converted it into a park for walking and hiking.

The park is dedicated, in part to Bethiah Shuemaker, Donald Shumaker’s late mother, who founded the city’s successful pickleball program, and worked with city children during summer camps, and later with seniors at the city’s community center, between 1997 until her death in 2017.

Mayor Jeanette Rishell said that the issue certainly warranted further discussion. Palko amended the policy during the discussion, adding “donors must have a sustained connection to the city and receive government body approval.”

The private firm that will manage Manassas Park’s new library, Library Systems and Services told officials it will work with the city to execute the new polices. After a unanimous vote by the Governing Body, the city’s new Library Strategic Plan and Policies are now being sent to the Library of Virginia for review and approval.

Earlier this year, Manassas Park decided to end its 41-year relationship with the Prince William County Public Library System and spend $3.1 million over 10 years to first to erect a new, independent, temporary library at Blooms Park, and then build a permanent library near the city hall, located at 1 Park Center Court, off Manassas Drive, which should open about 2023, according to Palko.

Dina Qureshi, a 26-year old engineer with Dominion Energy, bought a sewing machine.

For months, it sat unused — until now.

Qureshi, of Ashburn, had never sowed anything. She wanted to learn because it had always been a dream of hers to make herself a dress.

But life got busy.

Two weeks ago, Qureshi heard healthcare providers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic are lacking personal protective equipment (PPE).

“I decided this is a good opportunity for me to learn how to sew and to help the community,” Qureshi said.

So Qureshi, who has been teleworking from home, went to her friend who taught her the basics of sewing.  Then she bought a lot of colorful fabric and began to sew her first mask following the CDC guidelines.

“I got addicted,” said Qureshi.

She’s now made over 100 masks, and she just dropped off 50 of them last Friday at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg.

Not every hospital takes handmade masks, but Qureshi said she found the ones that do by doing a simple online search and reading the hospital’s coronavirus guidelines.

Each mask is sanitized washer and dryer machines, and then individually packed in Ziploc bags. Qureshi said she left the masks at a drop-off zone, across from the main hospital campus.

“I still have a lot of fabric so I will keep on making more,” she said.

The fabric stores were short on elastic as many people in the community to work to make masks to donate to first responses, healthcare workers, and now for themselves. So she made the ties that hold the mask to the ears from ribbons.

“They should be comfortable,” she said.

Each of her masks also has a pocket inside that works similar to a coffee filter, to add an additional layer of protection. The masks are 100% cotton and can be washed and worn over again and ironed.

Qureshi came to the U.S. from Morocco six years ago to get her Masters Degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering at the University of Maryland in College Park. She started working at Dominion in 2017.

Qureshi said that back home in Morocco, much like the rest of the world, airports are closed and citizens are quarantined. Still, she is able to use Facetime to connect with friends and family while here in the U.S.

As long as she has fabric and is working from home, she plans to make masks.

“I’m committed to still doing this,” Qureshi said.

The coronavirus outbreak has Manassas leaders predicting some changes to the city’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2021.

Manassas City Manager Patrick Pate said that a decline in tax revenues, particularly the meals tax, will leave less for the city to spend in the coming fiscal year which begins July 1. Many restaurants have either had to close or pivot their business models, like offering curbside or delivery service only.

And, because meals tax payments have been delayed until June 20, the city won’t see the impacts on the lower tax revenues until later in the Fiscal Year 2021.

Pate said that they are anticipating cuts from 25% to 75% in meals tax revenue moving forward. Despite some businesses faring well, there has been a dramatic decrease in business revenues across the city.

The city expects to also lose from rental revenue from city-owned spaces like the Manassas Museum, and the city’s public parks. Even though the Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam stay-at-home order expires June 10, many don’t expect people to jump back into renting right away.

Pate said that while they don’t rely on the transient occupancy tax (hotel taxes) very much, it is also declining, as are gas taxes. An investment income decline is expected as well.

Pate added that they do not have all the information yet so “we can only speculate” as to what’s going to happen. According to statistics from the Virginia Municipal League, overall, the city could lose $2 to $3 million this year. In neighboring Prince William County, it’s much of the same story as it is facing a $40 million decline in tax revenues due to the coronavirus.

Despite the projected loss in Manassas, Pate said city revenues were trending higher than they budgeted this year so they think they will come in to close to an even amount during this fiscal year.

To hedge the economic fallout, Pate said that all departments have been told to only spend on essential things. As for bringing on new employees, the city won’t institute a hiring freeze however, it will experience a hiring “chill,” as Pate described it, with fewer open positions being filled.  The city is currently not interviewing people to fill jobs due to social distancing requirements, despite some of those positions being “critical,” said Pate.

Prior to the pandemic, both meals and sales tax revenues were projected to be higher than city leaders had ever seen, so Pate said he believes that the city will end this fiscal year on June 30 to a very close break-even amount in the general fund. The city will have a better handle on where it stands with meals tax collections on April 20, said Pate.

That being said, Pate said that going forward to next year, the city could face a two to four percent decrease in revenues for next year, assuming that the pandemic continues and no bounce back in the economy occurs by the first quarter.

Pate said that they will hold back on some expenditures but still adopt a budget that includes employee pay raises and capital expenditures; while putting them on hold until they know what the revenue looks like. This way, if the coronavirus pandemic affects their budget, the city can use funds from those raises and capital projects to fund more vital parts of the budget. Pate said in a phone call that the money would be there in the budget and it would not affect things such as the fire station; only projects that had not been started yet.

Pate recommended that the city council set aside $2 million from the city’s general fund to be on the safe side.  A total of $1 million would be taken out of the school budget and another $1 million would be taken out of the general fund budget.

“We’ve got to give some certainty to the citizens with tax bills and things like that,” Councilman Mark Wolfe said, adding that he doesn’t envision massive layoffs for staff.

When it comes to those tax bills, under the original proposed budget for FY2021, the average homeowner in the city would see a $4,295 property tax bill — about $22o more than the previous year.

Councilman Ian Lovejoy said that if the money rebounds, then they can fund the things they sequestered. But he asked Pate if the money doesn’t materialize, how will they fund those things? The city could use its rainy day reserve fund, Pate responded.

Councilwoman Pamela Sebesky asked Pate if the city would need to raise the fire levy to accommodate three new firefighters that the fire department needs. Mr. Pate said yes, they would, and city fire officials said they need three new employees due to a drop in volunteer firefighters.

Zandra’s, like many other restaurants, has a large kitchen.

But due to the coronavirus outbreak that has forced the closure of many dining rooms in the area and around the state, the kitchen has seen little use these past few weeks.

So, Zandra’s owner Miguel Pires he and his landlord, Sean Landry, teamed up to put his kitchen equipment to use, by cooking food and donating it to Prince William Food Rescue. There, the food is turned into gourmet meals for the hungry in our area.

Zandra’s Kitchen, located inside the old Gainesville Elementary in Haymarket, also known as Pace West, is the inspiration for the name of the project he is calling “Old School Kitchen.”

The original school kitchen had been remodeled and renovated as part of the process to be a production facility for Zandra’s, which also has locations in Manassas and Fairfax cities. But for now, Pires says he doesn’t need it.

Instead, he and Landry saw people who needed food in the area and put their heads together to solve the problem Pires launched a GoFundMe to raise funds for the project. While Pires will be paying a few people who peel potatoes and make rice, he said that the chefs are all volunteers.

The first is Jules Foeaman, a chef who operates Jules Caribbean Barbecue, a food truck in Leesburg. Foeaman has spent his time in the Haymarket kitchen smoking chicken and pork butts. Along with the food that’s been donated, they buy basic things like pasta, rice, and olive oil. These special ingredients to turn their food into gourmet meals.

 “My thought is to bring in different people,” Pires said, explaining that their goal is to work with people in the community to come and whip up their own personal recipes.

Pires said that he was inspired to spin up his charitable efforts by another local business owner, Sharita Rouse, of Tummy Yum Yum, a gourmet candy apple store in Downtown Manassas. From her apple stand at 9119 Church Street, she has been feeding 150 people a day.

When Pires heard about this, he said, “We could do that with our crew.” Now, Old School Kitchen will make meals and deliver them to Rouse, who will distribute the food.

Pires said that they will start with Rouse, but as the word gets out they will find other non-profits and other food kitchens who can use the meals.

Pires said the best way to help them is by donating. He noted that a $10 donation makes roughly ten meals.

There’s also the challenge of getting people to sign up to be volunteers for Prince William Food Rescue, who will deliver the food.

Taking the ingredients and turning them into fully-prepared meals is essential for some who don’t have the ability or knowhow to cook.

“They’re the poorest of the poor,” Pires said. “If you give them a case of lettuce, they’re just eating lettuce. “So, by preparing the actual meals it is “putting something to good use,” said Pires.

An official launch date for the “Old School Kitchen” was slated for Monday, April 13.

The Old School Kitchen comes as the Prince William County Government is working with multiple food kitchens to feed residents in the wake of the coronavirus spread. Didlake, an organization that works with people with disabilities, donated their warehouse on Breeden Avenue in Manassas that will serve as a headquarters for the food distribution in the community.

According to a county press release posted to its website:

“Born out of the desire to help those in need, Prince William County partnered with Action in the Community Through Service (ACTS), the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park and the Prince William County Community Foundation to establish the Community Feeding Taskforce — a scalable, flexible, long-term feeding operation put in place to make sure Prince William County residents who need food receive it during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ACTS Development Director Aaron Tolson said ACTS has been working with Prince William County’s Emergency Management Office and other partners to build a hub-and-spoke distribution system to match the food supply to the need in the community.”

To volunteer with the Community Feeding Taskforce, download the Prince William Food Rescue app or register with Volunteer Prince William.

To donate food, please donate to either a local food pantry or call ACTS at 703-441-8606, extension 251 to coordinate a drop off time.

The Manassas City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to allow remote meetings for the next six months during the coronavirus outbreak, as well as to allow individual council members to remotely participate while sick, disabled, or on vacation.

During the meeting, Manassas council members sat one chair apart while councilwoman Pamela Sebesky and Councilwoman Michelle Davis-Younger wore masks.

The voice of City Attorney Craig Brown was piped in through speakerphone, as he led the council through the legal ins and outs of holding remote meetings. Under the law, the city council must continue to have a quorum in order to vote and carry out the city’s business, as well as setting a date and time for the public meeting.

The decision comes as the council still must make a major decision and the city’s operating budget for Fiscal Year 2021 by the end of the month. With an advertised tax rate of $1.48 per every $100 of the assessed Real Estate property value in the city, the average homeowner in the city would see a $4,295 property tax bill — that’s about $22o more than the previous year.

The new budget takes effect on July 1, and Real Estate taxes are the key funding source for the city government.

Under the emergency order, for remote public meetings held through real-time electronic means (including audio, telephonic, video or other practical electronic media) without a quorum present in one location, and that prior to holding any such electronic meeting, the city must provide the public notice of the upcoming meeting at least three days in advance. 

The city also must tell people how to access and listen or view the public meeting remotely, and how they may participate and offer public comment.”  

Brown explained that the council will have to be able to view public comments in real-time during the electronic meeting and that it is “the most significant part of this ordinance.” Brown said that city staff will have to come up with a mechanism to allow citizen input during the electronic meetings. Several online conferencing services offer chat features built into the program.

Brown also explained that the mayor and city manager must limit the agenda to only things that are necessary for essential public services or time-sensitive, and that this will essentially “reflect the new reality that we are dealing with,” Brown said. Only those matters that absolutely need accomplished will be discussed during these meetings, he added.

The remote meetings are still subject to Virginia’s open meetings laws. Councilman Mark Wolfe motioned the resolution, and Councilman Ian Lovejoy seconded it. There was no discussion, and the resolution passed unanimously.

Brown said that the remote meetings ordinance is valid at most for six months, but that doesn’t mean that it has to stay in place for 6 months.  Brown said if the city needs more time, they can re-enact the ordinance. Additionally, the city council can repeal the emergency order before the six-month if needed. 

A total of 75 people in Virginia have died from the coronavirus as of today, with 3,645 reported cases (2,161 more than a week ago). 

Debra Howe, a former NOVA student who has gone on to a successful career in healthcare, is giving back to the school by donating $1 million to her existing endowed scholarship fund for NOVA nursing students.

According to a press release, the Northern Virginia Community College Educational Foundation (NOVA Foundation) is proud to announce an exceptional gift of $1 million from donor Debra Coffman Howe of Palm Beach, Florida.

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In the wake of Governor Northam’s recent “Stay at Home” order for the State of Virginia, Jean Humbrecht, a Manassas-based attorney hosted a Facebook Live event on Wednesday discussing the legal ramifications of the order.

Humbrecht explained that not only Virginia but Maryland and Washington, D.C. also have stay at home orders. She explained that in Virginia, if a citizen violates the order, it is a class one misdemeanor and they can face up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,500.

Humbrecht encouraged people who have to travel to Maryland or Washington, D.C. for work to research their laws since they will apply to them while they are there. Humbrecht reiterated that you are subject to the laws and penalties of the place that you are going to.

Humbrecht noted that although things are constantly changing, as of right now Maryland’s rule forbids travel unless it is “absolutely necessary”, and lawbreakers face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.

Washington, D.C. is permitting essential work and travel only, with up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.

Humbrecht said that she’s been getting a lot of questions about the laws because they’re not entirely clear. One question someone asked her was if they can go to their mailbox. Humbrecht encouraged people to use common sense, but if you don’t think you should go or you don’t have to go there, then you shouldn’t, she said.

As far as if Humbrecht thinks people will actually get arrested?

“It’s too soon to tell,” she said. “This is such an unprecedented time, nobody really knows.”  The Virginia State Police said in a recent press release that they will address violations with warnings before being charged.

It’s now clear the Virginia State Police have mobilized and are enforcing the governor’s stay-at-home order. A police press sent on April 1, 2020 states:

“Governor Northam has directed state and local law enforcement to initially address violations of the following Executive Order 53 and Executive Order 55 directives with education and warnings. Persistent violation of these Executive Order (EO) directives can result in an individual(s) or business being charged with a class one misdemeanor, which carries up to a year in jail and $2,500 fine.”

During Humbrect’s webinar, someone asked if they are allowed to take an Uber. Humbrecht responded that while Uber drivers are not listed as essential in Virginia, they’re not listed as non-essential, either. If you have to get in an Uber, be make sure it’s for an essential reason, said Humbrect.

“These orders aren’t very clear,” Humbrecht said. “It goes back to common sense,” she said. Another question someone asked her was to what extent someone can exercise, which is allowed in the orders. Humbrecht replied to use common sense, and that going for a walk or a run for a few miles is fine.

Humbrecht added that it is possible the governor could revise his stay-at-home order, which ends June 10. The coronavirus outbreak is due to reach a peak in the state in mid-May, according to modeling data from the University of Washington.

“These rules and laws are constantly changing,” Humbrecht said.

Humbrecht also noted that because the region’s courthouses are closed, you can’t just walk into court and file a civil lawsuit. Lawyers are still working, but a lot of deadlines are being extended, she noted.

Another person asked if social gatherings of less than 10 neighbors sitting in lawn chairs 6 feet apart are alright. Humbrecht said that was fine.

More information related to the statewide “Stay at Home” order can be found online

The Marine Corps Marathon Organization (MCMO) announced that they are cancelling their Historic Half Weekend events scheduled for May in Fredericksburg following the statewide Stay at Home order issued by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, but they are providing other ways for runners to participate while socially distancing.

According to a press release from the Marine Corps Marathon Organization (MCMO), the MCMO has announced that the 2020 Marine Corps Historic Half Weekend events, scheduled for Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17 have been cancelled to support the wellbeing of the running community, residents, Marines and partners.

The event was due to take place outside the Fredericksburg Conference Center in Fredericksburg.

A refund on registration fees will not be provided. The MCMO has prioritized rewarding the loyalty of registered runners while offering alternative solutions for runners to participate in Historic Half Weekend, the release states.

According to the release, beginning on April 3, registered runners have a few options. They can defer entry into next year’s Historic Half Weekend on May 16, 2021 with no additional fees. Runners who defer to 2021 are eligible to re-register for the 2020 virtual event. Registered runners may also choose to transfer to the virtual option by completing a run of the distance of their choosing (5 miles, 13.1 miles or 18.1 miles) and receive a participant shirt, finisher medal and certificate, as well as the new Motigo Historic Half Audio Experience.

The deadline to defer and register for virtual participation is May 16, 2020. Further instructions will be sent to the e-mail address provided by participants during registration within the next 48 hours.

Additonally, all currently registered runners will receive a 30% LOYALTY discount on registration for any new and remaining 2020 MCM Event Series dates. Registered runners who defer to 2021 may apply this discount to the new Historic Half virtual option. Discount codes will be sent directly via e-mail.

For anyone motivated to run, on April 3, a new registration for the Historic Half Weekend Virtual Open will be available to ANYONE motivated to complete the Half, Semper5ive or Devil Dog Double. Virtual entry fee is $28 for Historic Half and Semper 5ive; $35 for Devil Dog Double; and includes the shipping and handling of the participant shirt, finisher medal and certificate and the Motigo Historic Half Audio Experience.

The MCMO appreciates the support of our global running community through this rapidly evolving situation. All registration questions may be directed to [email protected].

The Marine Corps Historic Half Weekend hosted annually in Fredericksburg, VA, includes thousands of participants and spectators from all over the United States and the world to partake in the Historic Half Marathon, Semper 5ive and the Devil Dog Double which encompasses both distances. No federal or Marine Corps endorsement is implied.

Superintendent Bruce McDade came to Manassas Park City Schools following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was set to leave with the coronavirus pandemic. His most recent contract with the school division was up in July, and he was set for a happy retirement after he announced February 25 that he would be leaving the school division at end of the academic school year. But now, plans have changed. In a post to Twitter on Tuesday, March 25, 2020, McDade announced that he will be staying on for one more year, extending his current contract at the request of the city school board. According to a press release from Manassas Park City Schools:

The MPCS School Board asked Dr. McDade to remain at his current post and delay his retirement by one year. “For continuity and consistency, particularly in these stressful times, the Board felt that the best course of action for our school community would be to ask Dr. McDade to remain at MPCS,” [School Board Chair Debbie] McIntyre- Yurkovich said. McDade agreed with the Board and said the decision to postpone retirement was fairly easy. “Never would I have envisioned that my final year at MPCS would include massive closures around the world,” said McDade. “I do not want to add undue stress to the School Board or to the staff and students of Manassas Park.”

Prior to announcing his delayed retirement, McDade had "been deeply involved" with the response to the coronavirus, and told Potomac Local News in an interview prior to his Twitter announcement that "I plan to give it my full attention right up until June 30," McDade said. McDade began working in the Manassas Park City Schools Division as a principal at Manassas Park Middle School.

"I have had 19 absolutely wonderful glorious years with Manassas Park City Schools," McDade said.

In 2010, McDade was selected as the next division’s superintendent -- the 8th superintendent in the history of Manassas Park. During his time in charge, McDade was part of the team that offered created the family market, which helps distribute food to as many as 700 needy families in the city on the third Thursday of every month, and he said that gave him a great deal of satisfaction to be around that.

"It's just a chance to give back to our community," McDade said.

Now, in the wake of the coronavirus, schools across Virginia have been shuttered for the remainder of the academic year. The family market, however, held in the parking lot of Manassas Park High School so families could continue to get food, with the help of the event sponsor Capital Area Food Bank. The family market food distribution is an addition to the prepackaged meals that are being distributed to residents in the wake of the coronavirus closure. McDade emphasized that throughout the pandemic, he has focused on the continuity of the school division’s food services city residents both young and old.

Student meal distribution will continue today at 4 pm at the main entrance of Manassas Park High School. Prepackaged grab-and-go meals are no charge for children ages 18 and under. Safe social distancing practices will be in effect. Follow volunteer direction upon arrival.

— MPCSchools (@MPCSVA) March 24, 2020

McDade came to Virginia from Canada to attend UVA, where he completed his Doctorate in Education with the intention of going back to Nova Scotia. But he desperately wanted to be a high school principal - and he found that opportunity here in the commonwealth. McDade was hired as an assistant principal at a school near Charlottesville and worked there for six years. When an opportunity opened within the Manassas Park City Schools in 2000, McDade applied and was hired. He and his wife, Norbi, then moved to Prince William County. After working as a principal at Manassas Park High School for five years, McDade went onto become an associate superintendent and then was named superintendent in 2010, a Manassas Park City Schools press release states. McDade Potomac Local News that while the search for the new superintendent was occurring prior to the announcement he was staying on for one more year, he was completely divorced from the new superintendent hiring process. There was a public hearing about the process the night of our interview, which he said he would not attend. "That's the way I want it," McDade said. The city will hire a new superintendent, eventually, and McDade says he’ll be happy to show that person the ropes. A total of 3,640 students were enrolled in Manassas Park City Schools at the start of the 2019-2020 school year, according to the Virginia Department of Education data. The school division has two elementary schools, one middle school, and a high school.