There are many women and children in Africa that have to walk more than 3 miles for water.

This fact is what spurred World Vision, a humanitarian organization, to organize their annual 6K for Water walk/run, which will be held in Manassas on September 12.

“[The] program works to address the 768 million people in the world who lack access to clean water. It started last year. Last year we just did it in Chicago, and this year we separated it out to four different cities – Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, and [the Washington] D.C. [area],” said Ashley Colquitt, the marketing director for the race.

According to Colquitt, 1,600 children under the age of five die each day because of a lack of access to clean water, and the issue takes more lives each year than AIDS and malaria combined.

It also keeps many girls out of school, because they need to collect water, said Colquitt.

“The race is a 6K – which is a little shorter than four miles – it’s the distance that women and children in Africa have to walk to collect water. The issue with that is that it keeps girls out of school, because they have to collect water for their family. There are also hygiene and sanitation issues, because the water they collect is often dirty water…it’s the only water they have access,” said Colquitt.

Registration costs $50, with 100% of proceeds going to help their water access program.

“[Before the race] we pinpoint the community that we’re going to provide clean access to water for, and we take pictures of the kids that people are helping. And on race day, people running will be running with pictures of those kids on their race bibs. They know exactly where and who their donation went to,” said Colquitt.

The race will start at 9 a.m. that morning at the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center.

Registration for the race is currently open. 

The City of Manassas has a new deputy manager.

According to a city release, City Manager Patrick Pate has selected Bryan Foster for the position.

Foster will oversee Public Works and utilities for the city, starting September 14.

“Bryan’s background makes him a perfect fit for our community. He has served in many roles in local government and I know the City will benefit from his expertise,” stated City Manager William Patrick Pate. 

Foster has served as a county administrator, town manager, and director of Municipal Services, prior to his current role as the Director of Public Utilities in Portsmouth, Virginia.

“My wife and I are looking forward to moving to Manassas. It is a beautiful city and I look forward to becoming part of the team,” stated Foster. 

Update
These lane closures are canceled, according to a VDOT spokesman.

Original post.

Get ready for some lane closures on Interstate 95 next week.

Overnight on August 3 and August 4, there will be multiple lane closures on I-95 North near Exit 158 (Prince William Parkway).

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) stated that the lanes will be closed at 9 a.m. each night, and then there will be more closures overnight that will last for around 30 minutes.

All of the lanes will be fully reopened at 4 a.m., stated a VDOT release.

If there are any delays due to weather, the work will be completed overnight on August 5.

A VDOT release stated that the closures are being done to install a new overhead sign, as part of the 95 Shoulder Improvement Project.

The project is working to build auxiliary lanes, new guardrails, additional lighting, and widened road shoulders on I-95 between Dumfries Road and Prince William Parkway, according to VDOT.

Stafford is selling some items from the old Stafford Senior High School online.

The high school, which was built in 1972, was demolished to make way for a new high school, which will be completed in the 2015 – 2016 school year.

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Pfitzner Stadium – the home of the Potomac Nationals baseball team – is getting a facelift.

The stadium, which opened in 1984, is owned by Prince William County. According to Potomac Nationals General Manager Josh Olerud, the county has leased the stadium to the team for more than 20 years.

The county board of supervisors has agreed to pay $230,000 for the stadium’s improvements, stated Olerud.

The focus of the project is to expand the Potomac Nationals’ clubhouse.

“We are expanding the visiting team’s clubhouse. [It] hasn’t been touched since stadium has been built, [it’s] probably the smallest clubhouse in all of Minor League Baseball,” stated Olerud.

According to Olerud, the stadium is currently out of compliance in some areas, as assessed by Minor League Baseball.

“The stadium gets surveyed by Minor League Baseball every other year to assess every stadium. Although we are grandfathered into many areas, we fall under compliance in several others,” stated Olerud.

The improvements to the stadium are currently taking place, and will be finished by mid-September, stated Olerud.

The Potomac Nationals organization announced in 2012 it would build a new stadium at Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center behind Wegmans. Ground has yet to be broken on this project.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) plans to make changes to I-95 exits in Stafford and Fredericksburg.

Using $18 million from VDOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, improvements will be made to Exit 130 (Route 3/Fredericksburg) and Exit 133 (Route 17/Falmouth).

“Last fall, VDOT reviewed crash data on Interstates 64, 81 and 95 to find spot locations with elevated crash rates where these federal funds could be applied,” said Stafford spokeswoman Shannon Howell.

These two highway exits had crash rates above the statewide average, stated VDOT Communications Manager Kelly Hannon.

During the project, VDOT would make four major changes.

More on the proposed changes, from Kelly Hannon:

Extend the acceleration lane on the interstate for Interstate 95 northbound traffic entering from Route 3 westbound, giving them more time to merge.

Extend the ramp entrance lane on Route 3 westbound for traffic entering the I-95 northbound cloverleaf ramp.

Increases the number of lanes exiting Interstate 95 southbound to Route 3 westbound

Separate, free-flowing ramp lane (divided) leading to the Carl D. Silver Parkway entrance at Central Park. This seeks to reduce the vehicle weaving and conflict point at the end of the ramp today.

Triple (3) lanes on the remainder of I-95 southbound exit ramp to Route 3 westbound.

These lanes would make a slight right turn onto westbound Route 3, controlled by a traffic signal. On a green light, this would give traffic exiting the opportunity to enter Route 3 westbound without any traffic conflict, eliminating the weaving. We have a similar pattern in place for traffic exiting I-95 SB at Exit 143/Aquia.

Extends length of deceleration lane for I-95 southbound traffic exiting at Route 3 westbound.

 Route 17 – Extends acceleration ramp on the interstate for I-95 southbound traffic entering from Exit 133, prior to the Rappahannock River Bridge.

Currently the design for the project’s improvements is being drafted. Construction will begin in 2016, and will finish in late 2017, stated Hannon.

Dumfries police want to educate kids and keep them safe.

The Town of Dumfries Police Department just wrapped up their fifth Kids Academy – a program started by Chief Dan Taber.

The goal of the program is to let children connect with police officers in a safe environment, and give them information on alcohol, drugs, cyberbullying and social media safety, according to a Dumfries police release.

More on the program, from a Dumfries police release:

This year’s academy also included demonstrations and presentations from the Prince William County Police Department K9, TTRU (“SWAT”), and Motor units.  Other County public safety agencies were introduced in this year’s academy so the kids could expand their knowledge and learn the different functions of, and interact with personnel from, the various agencies they see in Town.  Personnel from the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office, Dumfries-Triangle Rescue Squad Station 3 (DTRS), and Dumfries-Triangle Fire Station 3, interacted with the kids and discussed some of their duties.  Additionally, this year’s academy included a presentation and demonstration from representatives of an Army Ordnance Unit.

During one afternoon, the kids became “Junior Detectives” and worked to solve a crime scene that had been created while they were attending an outside activity.  An overview of the crime was presented to the entire group.  The kids then cycled through different stations to analyze pieces of evidence left at the crime scene to develop a suspect and solve mystery of what had occurred. 

The kids participated in several hands-on activities throughout the academy that included individual and group contests.

The Kids Academy was held at the Dumfries-Triangle Rescue Station 3.  This was the second year the DTRS has partnered with the Dumfries Police Department by allowing the Kids Academy to be held at their facility.  This year the DTRS also provided and prepared most of the food for the academy.