With spring on the horizon, spring cleaning is not far behind.
Prince William County Solid Waste Division has several programs to help residents declutter, organize, and dispose of unwanted items in an environmentally responsible way, keeping lots of things out of landfill.
Fix-Fairs and Repair Cafes are great ways to model nature’s renewal. At these events, residents can have items repaired and ready for reuse by themselves or others. Prince William County and Keep Prince William Beautiful have hosted several free Fix-It Fair events in the past. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, April 22, at House of Mercy in Manassas from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Customers must register for this free repair service. Jewelry, clothing, small and large appliances, small furniture, and bicycle repairs are available. Additionally, the Prince William County Library may host a Repair Café in the fall.
Other Solid Waste Division reuse, recycling, and disposal options:
Yard Waste – Residents can drop off yard waste, such as lawn clippings, tree limbs, leaves, etc. at the Balls Ford Road Compost Facility or at the Prince William County Landfill in designated areas where it will be processed into mulch or compost.
Garage “garbage” – Often, items found in garages have a special disposal area at the County’s Solid Waste facilities. Residents may drop off lead-acid automotive batteries, used antifreeze, oil and filters, household batteries, and scrap metal pieces at specially designated areas at the Landfill or Balls Ford Road facility.
In-home clutter – Donation is a great way to free yourself of unwanted items. Clothes, shoes, linens, furniture, and small household appliances can meet the needs or become a treasure of someone else when they are donated. Check out the types of items accepted by local reuse organizations and the donation bins at the Landfill or Balls Ford Road Compost Facility.
Household Hazardous Waste – These items may be found in the yard, garage, shed, or inside the home. Insecticides, paints, fluorescent bulbs, aerosol cans, drain cleaners, gasoline, and more, require cautious disposal. Residents must take extra care when discarding these items to help prevent them from harming septic systems and soils, even their homes, and ensure better health and safety for people, pets, and the environment.
Prince William County residents can dispose of these materials at no extra cost, but the items should be sealed in their original labeled containers.
Prince William County residents can dispose of these materials at no extra cost, but the items should be sealed in their original labeled containers. For more information on the county’s Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling program hours and restrictions, please visit pwcva.gov/trashandrecycling.
The theater department of Mountain View High School (MVHS) will bring Les Miserables – School Edition to the high school stage beginning March 24.
Known as the Mountain View WildActs, the group has previously earned awards from the Virginia High School League, the Virginia Theatre Association, and the SouthEastern Theatre Conference. The 30 student performers are joined in a cross-curricular production that includes 30 crew members and 20 musicians spanning theater, band, orchestra, and fine art.
“There are few productions that loom larger than Les Miserables,” said Josh King, MVHS Artistic Director. “It’s one of the most beloved productions in all the world and we are delighted to bring it to the high school stage.”
Chosen for its theses of resilience and strength, student performers encourage the audience to ‘join in the crusade’, to ‘be strong and stand’ – popular themes in the production.
“We hope the audience will laugh with the Thenardiers; we hope they’ll cry with Fantine. We hope their hair stands up on their necks when they see Enjolras wave his rallying flag in the face of defeat,” said MVHS Technical Director Eric Hokanson.”But most importantly, we hope the Stafford community sees that their students are so incredibly talented, intelligent, and empathetic.”
The WildActs have become known for both innovative theatrical experiences and large-scale musical productions. Fall productions offer immersive storytelling through creative staging styles.
Winter one acts showcase student-devised plays that compete at the Virginia High School League, Virginia Theatre Association, and South Eastern National Theatre conferences. Spring musicals boast immense scenery, large casts, technical precision, and the incorporation of the school’s honor band to play in the pit.
“We are enormously proud of our student performers, and admire the students and staff for taking on such a challenging program,” said Stafford Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas W. Taylor. “It is clear that the students have a love for the performing arts and a passion for producing high quality theatrical shows. We are excited to see what they will do with the student edition of this world-famous play.”
Audiences may watch Les Miserables – Student Edition March 24, 25, 30, 31 & April 1st at MVHS. The show begins at 7:00 and will run approximately 3 hours (including a 15 a minute intermission). Tickets are $10 and available at www.mvwildacts.com.
The Prince William County Department of Public Works Neighborhood Services and Solid Waste Divisions have scheduled Dumpster Days across the county beginning in April.
Large dumpsters, placed in neighborhoods during Dumpster Days, offer neighbors a chance to come together to clean up their homes, yards, and communities of unwanted clutter and debris.
“In addition to the Dumpster Days, some volunteers will clean up the surrounding area,” said Neighborhood Services Senior Education and Outreach Coordinator Cathy Holtzlander. “They’ll have folks going out into the neighborhood with trash bags cleaning the area. It’s the neighbors owning the community. We’re just providing them with a convenient means of getting rid of their unwanted household items, junk and clutter. The Dumpster Day events are very well-received in the community; therefore, the Department of Public Works will continue to provide this support to our residents committed to improving their neighborhoods.”
Dumpster Day events schedule:
- Occoquan District Area Cleanup: April 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bethel United Methodist Church, 13506 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge. Contact Adam Hamby at 703-792-4418 to volunteer.
- Potomac District Town of Quantico Cleanup: April 15, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 405 Broadway St. Contact the Town Clerk at [email protected] to volunteer.
- Coles District Irongate Community Cleanup: April 29, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Across from Court 4 near the community pool area off Irongate Way. Contact Wendy Hudock at [email protected] to volunteer.
- Neabsco District Dale City Civic Assoc. Cleanup: May 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Gemini Way Commuter Lot, Dale City. Contact Monique Raulston Ratliff at 510-499-1454 to volunteer.
- Woodbridge District Area Cleanup and Shred Event: May 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fred Lynn Middle School, 1650 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge. Contact B. Johnson at 703-792-4646 to volunteer.
- Gainesville District Sudley Area Cleanup: June 3, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sudley Elementary School, 9744 Copeland Drive, Manassas. Contact Brooke Stark at 703-792-6195 to volunteer.
- Potomac District Area Cleanup and Shred Event: June 17, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Washington Reid Preschool Center, 16108 Dumfries Road, Dumfries. Contact Karen Mills at 703-792-4646 to volunteer.
- Potomac District Town of Quantico Cleanup: Sept. 16, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 405 Broadway St. Contact the Town Clerk at [email protected] to volunteer.
- Woodbridge District Area Cleanup and Shred Event: Sept. 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Rippon Middle School, 15101 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge. Contact B. Johnson at 703-792-4646 to volunteer.
- Coles District Irongate Community Cleanup: Oct. 21, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Across from Court 4 near the community pool area off Irongate Way. Contact Wendy Hudock at [email protected] to volunteer.
Items that will not be accepted on Dumpster Days include fuel tanks, motor oil, fuel drums, household hazardous waste, antifreeze, paint, paint thinners, pesticides, pool chemicals, electronics or commercial waste. These items can be taken to the Prince William County Landfill at 14811 Dumfries Road. Call the landfill at 703-792-5750 for more information on the proper disposal of items that cannot be accepted during Dumpster Days.
Please ensure that household appliances such as refrigerators are emptied and wiped clean. Remove glass trays from microwave ovens and tape the oven doors shut before dropping them at the dumpster.
Updated Tuesday, March 21 — Shoulder widening scheduled to begin this week in Stafford County has been postponed and will now begin on Monday, March 27. The work will still occur between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
Original Post — A combined safety and resurfacing project on Kellogg Mill Road in Stafford County will begin this week to widen shoulders and deliver a smoother travel surface slightly.
Starting Monday, March 20, motorists can expect mobile lane closures and one-way, alternating traffic. Work will occur between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays.
Widening work will begin first on the 2-mile section of Kellogg Mill Road between Poplar Road and Abel Drive. Weather permitting, work will be underway along this section of Kellogg Mill Road for two weeks.
Once this section is completed, work will begin in the half-mile section of Kellogg Mill Road between Mountain View Road and Ramoth Church Road and is anticipated to be underway along this section for a week.
This project is a partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Stafford County.
Shoulder widening provides drivers with more recovery space if their vehicles stray from the travel lanes. The project is intended to reduce the risk of crashes and injuries resulting from vehicles running off the road.
Construction will occur in two phases. Widening work is scheduled to occur first before Kellogg Mill Road is resurfaced later this year.
Kellogg Mill Road will be slightly widened by approximately 12 inches on each side of the road.
A new layer of asphalt will cover the widened area to create a uniform appearance and smooth travel surface. New centerline lane markings will be painted for a brighter, more reflective appearance.
Kellogg Mill Road has two travel lanes, and will remain two lanes after the widening and resurfacing.
The widening project contractor is Howard Bros., Inc.
Together, the projects represent an investment of more than $30 million in transportation improvements near the interchange.
A groundbreaking was held today with the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors and Delegate Robert “Bobby” Orrock to mark the ceremonial start of construction.
The projects are a partnership between Spotsylvania County and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and have additional support from federal safety funds and regional federal transportation funds.
Three projects will be accomplished through separate construction contracts:
I-95 Exit 126 Off-Ramp Improvement and Route 1 Southbound Widening, and
Southpoint Parkway Safety Improvements Read More
The National Park Service plans to conduct a prescribed fire in Prince William Forest Park this month, potentially as early as March 16, depending on weather conditions. The planned fire will cover approximately 105 acres of forested areas along Scenic Drive near the Oak Ridge Campground.
This fire aims to restore ecological processes in the park and reduce hazardous fuels.
To conduct a prescribed fire, also known as a controlled burn, many factors must align and ensure public and firefighter safety. The prescribed fire’s timing depends on weather conditions within the required wind, temperature, and relative humidity parameters.
Over the past 24 hours, high winds have prevailed over the region. However, the winds will soon subside, and temperatures will warm to the low 60s on Thursday, March 16, 2022.
Wildland fire engines, firefighters, and the nearby paved roads create buffers and fire breaks to ensure the fire is contained. National Park Service staff will monitor air quality and smoke impacts. Upon completion of the fire activity, wildland firefighters will continue to monitor the area to ensure the fire is contained.
Park roads and trails will be closed as needed to ensure the safety of the public and the firefighters. Portions of Scenic Drive, Oak Ridge Trail, and Old Blacktop Road will be closed during the burn, and smoke is expected to be visible in the northern part of the park.
The Prince William County Criminal Justice Academy Basic Law Enforcement 52nd Session graduated on Monday, March 13, 2023, in a ceremony at Grace Life Community Church in Bristow. This class comprised 12 Prince William County Police officers and three Prince William County Sheriff’s deputies.
The 15 men and women completed a 24-week course of training in all aspects of police work, including classes in firearms, use-of-force decision-making, driver training, legal training, patrol techniques, criminal investigation and crash investigation. The graduating law enforcement personnel are listed below, and brief biographies of each graduate follow:
Prince William County Police Department
- Jacob R. Arnsparger
- Gery Denniswara
- Lauren F. Fanta
- Madelyn A. Granger
- Joshua N. Ivanjack
- Noel A. Maldonado Salinas
- Jorge A. Marquez
- Kevin A. Rustrian
- Farhan Shahzad
- Emily K. Sullivan
- Joan S. Vidal Acosta
- Melissa N. Wilson
Prince William County Sheriff’s Office
- Christian W. Argueta
- MacKenzie R. Miller
- Collin J. Tang
Both departments continue to recruit new police officers. Starting pay for new officers is $62,000 annually.
Here’s some background information on the recent graduates:
Greetings, Prince William – Attention Plant Lovers and Gardeners! Leopold’s Preserve, 16290 Thoroughfare Road in Broad Run, is offering a series of family-friendly training for volunteers to be certified in invasive vine removal at their facility.
Once certified, volunteers can come to the Preserve any time, on their own schedule, and independently work to remove invasive vines. Training is required to learn more about invasive vine identification and removal techniques.
Training for 2023 will be offered on the following dates, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm: March 11, April 22, August 12, and October 14. It’s family-friendly, and you’ll enjoy being outdoors in this beautiful facility and helping the staff as you clear out vines that could strangle trees and plants!
Please visit http://bit.ly/3J9YUNR for more information on this opportunity, visit www.leopoldspreserve.com/calendar to sign up. Please visit www.leopoldspreserve.com/invasive-vines to learn more about invasive vines.
Volunteer Prince William is in urgent need of a Spanish-speaking volunteer who can be on call to translate for Alternative Community Service clients who want to enroll in our program but speak little or no English. The volunteer will participate in a conference call between staff and the client to translate the questions and responses during the initial intake interview.
Volunteers will be scheduled ahead of time for specific shifts and must be available by phone during these times. Volunteers must be proficient in English and Spanish and able to speak clearly. They must also ensure that the information they translate remains accurate and maintains the same style and meaning as originally intended. The conference call can be done once a week, or you can be on standby. Please email [email protected] for more information.
If you love animals and running, we have a great opportunity! The wonderful people at Advocates for Abused and Abandoned Pets need an experienced volunteer age 18+ to help coordinate, manage, and execute walk/run fundraisers. The goal is to host a 5K race in Prince William during the early fall. It’s not too early to begin planning, and you’ll feel great as you promote a healthy event that will help homeless and abused animals! Please email [email protected] to learn more.
You can help our senior citizens! Prince William Area Agency on Aging is looking for Home Delivered Meals Drivers age 18+ to deliver noontime meals to homebound seniors Monday-Friday, 10 am-12 pm. Routes take about 1.5 hours to complete; schedules are flexible. The program operates out of the two senior centers in Manassas and Woodbridge. Volunteers must have dependable transportation, a valid driver’s license, a safe driving record, and proof of insurance. Volunteers must also pass a criminal background check, paid by Prince William County. You’ll get the warm fuzzies as you deliver both a smile to seniors’ faces and a hot, nutritious meal! Please contact Tracy at 703.792.4583 or visit http://bit.ly/3IPKVfJ for more information.
Are you a people person? The staff at Capital Caring Health needs a virtual volunteer to help with volunteer recruitment for their various programs. This virtual opportunity is about 10 hours a month and involves social media, marketing, and outreach support. This is an excellent remote opportunity; you’ll gain nonprofit management and communication experience! Please email [email protected] to learn more.
If you love admin work, the folks at CFH (formerly Catholic for Housing) want to meet you! They need a volunteer bilingual Office Assistant who can keep the day-to-day office operations going and assist callers and clients.
Duties include answering phones, helping visitors, help with the website and program applications. Flexible schedule, 2-3 days a week, 4-6 hours each shift. Bilingual skills in Spanish required. You’ll feel great as you help this agency make affordable housing possible for their clients! Please email [email protected] for more information.
You can make a difference in the life of a child! Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) need volunteers age 21+ who care about children growing up in a safe, permanent, and loving home. The staff will hold their next Virtual Information Session on March 22, 6 pm-7 pm. Learn how you can help protect abused and neglected children in your community by becoming a volunteer advocate. Please email [email protected] or call 703.330.8145 to receive the link to the meeting.
Catholic Charities’ Virginia Refugee Student Achievement Program (VRSAP) needs volunteers to help tutor students on an ongoing basis. This program supports children for up to five years after arrival and assists refugee students in target areas so that they will be successful in school. Tutors assist children with tutoring, school supplies, computers, referrals for counseling, academic services, testing, and other needs. Please visit http://bit.ly/3uBxVnP to sign up. Please email [email protected] to learn more.
The dedicated staff at Grace United Methodist Church needs volunteers to be Teachers and Helpers for their next session of English as a Second Language (ESL), April 4 thru June 8. Classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 pm-9 pm, at the church located at 9750 Wellington Road, Manassas 20110. You’ll feel wonderful as you help learners improve their English reading, writing, and speaking skills! Please email [email protected] to learn how you can make a difference.
*Virtual Opportunity* Historic Dumfries is seeking an experienced volunteer to help with submitting grants to make The Lee Lansing Research Library more accessible and to help promote the upcoming 250th commemoration of local history and Revolutionary War history. Your help would directly impact Historic Dumfries as your advice will help the Executive Director prepare to submit two very impactful grants for this small community! Please email [email protected] for more information.
Pink Space Theory has all sorts of volunteer opportunities open for talented individuals! Newsletter Content Contributor, STEM Lesson Creator, Grant Writer, and STEM Speaker are just a few opportunities to get young minds excited about learning! Please email [email protected] for more information.
If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call our wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William at 703.369.5292. You can also visit our website at volunteerprincewilliam.org. Thanks so much for all you do in our community.
Customers of Stafford Utilities may soon experience some changes in their water as part of the County’s continued efforts to provide quality water.
From March 13, 2023, through the end of May 2023 at the latest, Stafford County will perform a system-wide flush to ensure a high level of disinfection of all county water mains.
The county takes extra steps to maintain the 717 miles of water mains in the distribution system through a deep cleaning process called “free chlorination.” Stafford County will temporarily distribute “free chlorine” instead of combined chlorines throughout the water distribution system during this process.
The free chlorination process helps remove any bacteria inside the distribution system and prevents bacteria from forming a resistance to the routine disinfection treatment process.
The free chlorination process does not adversely affect the water quality, but some people may notice a slight change in the taste and smell of their tap water. The chlorine will naturally dissipate if you store water in an open pitcher in your refrigerator. Out of an abundance of caution, this flushing process may affect owners/operators of fish tanks, laundromats, and other water-dependent operations.
You may notice an open fire hydrant when crews are flushing in your neighborhood. Opening fire hydrants helps draw the chlorine through the distribution system. The flushing also allows any sediments or minerals collected in the water mains to be washed out. If you want additional information about this program, visit staffordcountyva.gov/flushing.
