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.

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

For months, it sat unused -- until now.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.