MANASSAS PARK, Va. – The Manassas Park Governing Body is considering a new ordinance that would ban firearms in city-owned buildings, a move Vice Mayor Darryl Moore says is about protecting the public before tragedy strikes.

During a meeting on Tuesday, June 24, Moore introduced the proposal, which would prohibit residents and visitors from carrying firearms into facilities such as City Hall, the Community Center, the MAP Clinic, and the Planning Department office at Blooms Park.

“There wasn’t necessarily a specific incident,” said Moore. “But like I said, the CDC said that’s the number one charge. And why wait for an incident when we can do something to handle it before it happens?”

City Manager Carl Cole confirmed the proposal is permitted under Virginia law. A 2020 change to state code allows local governments to restrict guns in public buildings and parks, provided an ordinance is passed.

Council members expressed broad support for the move, though some, like Councilman Michael Carrera, questioned whether the proposed penalty—a Class 1 misdemeanor carrying up to a $2,500 fine and 12 months in jail—was too harsh. Carrera asked for a comparison with other cities’ penalties before moving forward.

Another inquired about the status of firearms in public parks, believing there may already be restrictions. City Attorney Dean advised that the city’s existing ordinance only prohibits weapons for the purpose of hunting and does not prevent individuals from carrying firearms in parks.

Several council members discussed possibly expanding the ban in the future to include outdoor areas such as Blooms Park, the farmer’s market, or large city events like Last Friday. For now, however, the consensus settled on limiting the ordinance to city buildings.

The governing body directed the city attorney to begin drafting the ordinance language. A formal vote is expected at a future meeting once the proposed ordinance is complete and reviewed by the governing body.

Moore states that the focus of the ordinance is on restricting firearms in buildings, rather than regulating storage in personal vehicles.

MANASSAS, Va. – Historic Manassas, Inc. is preparing for a leadership change as Executive Director Kristen Kiefer steps down after two years of service that brought much-needed stability to the downtown revitalization nonprofit.

Kiefer, who was the third person to hold the position in a short span of time, helped steer the organization through a transitional period, following the departures of previous directors Debbie Haight and Laurel Howard. She was named interim director in April 2023 and officially took the helm that September. Her time as director was marked by the rebranding of the Manassas Farmers Market, expansion of downtown events, and a renewed strategic direction.

She will leave the role to become Executive Director of a national nonprofit in Washington, D.C. Kiefer will remain involved with HMI as a member of its Board of Directors.

Joining her in departing is Events & Vendor Manager Jheanel Butler, who will become the Visitor & Business Services Manager for the City of Manassas.

Lisa Harrover Harlow, a lifelong Manassas resident and longtime HMI staff member, will take over as Executive Director in late July. Harlow has played a key role in many of the nonprofit’s recent successes and is expected to continue building on that momentum.

Historic Manassas, Inc. did not respond to a request for comment.

Historic Manassas, Inc. (HMI) has experienced several leadership transitions in recent years.

• Debbie Haight resigned in late 2022 after serving in the role of Executive Director for an extended period.

• Laurel E. Howard was appointed in March 2023 but served for only a brief period.

• Kristen Kiefer stepped in as Interim Executive Director in April 2023 and was officially named Executive Director in September 2023.

MANASSAS, Va. – Northern Virginia’s fireworks fans are in for a double dose of celebration this Independence Day, as both the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park host major events packed with parades, live entertainment, and fireworks shows.

In Historic Downtown Manassas, the fun kicks off Friday, July 4, 2025, at 3 p.m. Sponsored by Historic Manassas, Inc. and the City of Manassas, this free, family-friendly event promises an afternoon of games and rides for kids, face painting, 4th of July memorabilia, and food and craft vendors. Patriotic favorites like Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty will roam the crowd, while attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and stake out a spot on the Manassas Museum Lawn and surrounding areas. The evening will close with one of the region’s best fireworks displays, launching at 9:15 p.m.

Parking in the downtown garage will be closed, and with large crowds and loud fireworks expected, organizers suggest leaving pets at home.

The next day, the spotlight turns to Manassas Park, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary as an independent city. The celebration begins on Saturday, July 5, 2025, with a parade from 9 to 11 a.m., starting at Blooms Crossing (Carondelet Drive and Manassas Drive) and ending at City Hall (100 Park Central Plaza). The city invites community members to participate by entering floats, vehicles, or bicycles in the parade.

That evening, the party continues with the Independence Fireworks Celebration at Signal Hill Park (9300 Signal View Drive) from 5 to 10 p.m. Families can enjoy food trucks, games, live music, and a second dazzling fireworks display. An estimated 6,000 guests are expected.

In the lead-up to the big weekend, a flag-raising ceremony honoring the city’s milestone will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, at Manassas Park City Hall.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Brew Republic Bierwerks, a longtime fixture in the Stonebridge Town Center, will permanently close its doors after nearly nine years in business.

According to a message shared by the brewery, its landlord has terminated the lease, and with the high costs of relocating and ongoing challenges in the restaurant and brewery industries, the owners have decided not to reopen elsewhere. “This isn’t the opportunity-rich environment breweries had experienced in 2016 when we opened,” they wrote.

The brewery will host a farewell celebration from July 25 to 27, inviting patrons to join them for “food, fun, alcohol, and A LOT of beer” before their final day of public service on Sunday, July 27. Specials and events are planned in the weeks leading up to the closing weekend.

Brew Republic cited a shift in landlord relations following the 2023 sale of the shopping center as a key factor in the decision.

Despite the closure, the owners expressed pride in their role as a community gathering place, noting weddings, retirements, and even a presidential inauguration beer among their many memories. They plan to sell the remaining beer and other items before closing.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Fredericksburg City Council has adopted a new comprehensive plan that lays out how the city will grow, change, and preserve what residents love most over the next 20 years. Unanimously approved on June 24, the Fredericksburg Forward plan is the result of nearly two years of public engagement, neighborhood meetings, and input from city boards and planning experts.

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STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday night to adopt a new ordinance that will allow speed and red light cameras in school and highway work zones, a move aimed at improving road safety across the county.

The ordinance, O25-13, amends the county’s motor vehicle code to enable the use of automated photo speed monitoring devices in designated school and work zones and authorizes the placement of red light cameras at intersections. While state law already permits speed enforcement in these zones, a county ordinance was required to allow red light camera enforcement.

Major R. Jason Dembowski of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office led the presentation at the public hearing, emphasizing that the initiative is focused on safety, not revenue generation.

“We do not have enough deputies to monitor every school zone each day,” said Dembowski. “This program allows us to leverage technology to make school zones safer.”

A pilot study at six county schools—including Drew Middle, Colonial Forge High, and Stafford Middle—revealed thousands of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by 10 miles per hour or more during just five days of monitoring. Drew Middle alone saw over 18,000 such violations on Route 1.

Under the new program:

• Speeding violations will carry a civil fine of up to $100.
• Red light violations will result in a civil fine of up to $50.
• Neither offense will impact DMV points or insurance rates.
• Deputies will be required to review all violations before a citation is issued.

The county may install up to 17 red light cameras, based on its population. School zones will be prioritized for both types of enforcement, though intersections with frequent accidents—such as those along Garrisonville Road (Route 610)—may be considered for future red light camera placement.

Several supervisors expressed support, citing concerns about speeding near schools and frequent accidents in high-traffic areas.

Vice Chair Tinesha Allen encouraged the sheriff’s office to consider placing one of the red light cameras along Route 610, calling the road “a choke point” for traffic when collisions occur. Supervisor Monica Gary highlighted a recent crash involving a speeding driver on Courthouse Road near multiple schools as a reason for swift action.

Although the technology will be implemented in phases, county officials and the sheriff’s office acknowledged the need for additional staff to monitor and process camera footage. The sheriff’s office expects to request funding for those positions in the FY27 budget.

With the board’s approval now secured, the sheriff’s office plans to begin vendor selection and infrastructure planning. The first cameras could be operational within six to eight months.

Stafford now follows neighboring Prince William County, which launched its own school zone speed camera program in 2024. As Potomac Local News previously reported, Prince William officials installed cameras near several schools and, after a six-month pilot period, voted to keep the program in place, citing reductions in speeding and positive community feedback.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts will launch its summer season with Next to Normal, a Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical that blends rock music with raw emotion to tell the story of a family navigating the stormy waters of mental illness and grief.

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WOODBRIDGE, Va. –A surge in riders across OmniRide commuter bus routes is triggering overcrowding issues on several key lines, prompting officials at the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) to weigh how and where they can expand service — especially as the region heads into a busy fall season.

Speaking during the June 5 PRTC Board of Commissioners meeting, Executive Director Dr. Bob Schneider said ridership dipped slightly in May due to seasonal factors like Memorial Day and rainy weather, but overall remains strong.

“Ridership is still fantastic… We are hitting that beginning of the summer seasonal adjustment,” Schneider told the commission.

Among the standout performers is Route 981, which runs from Lake Ridge to the Pentagon and downtown D.C. — ridership on that route has doubled since January. Western express routes that operate from the University Boulevard commuter lot are carrying more than 40,000 monthly riders, while southern routes serving Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania counties have topped 30,000 riders a month.

Still, the agency is confronting the downside of growing demand: overcrowded buses.

Schneider said OmniRide recorded 74 overcrowded trips in May, all of them in the afternoon as commuters returned from D.C. to Northern Virginia.

“The issue isn’t the number of people going in — it’s everyone leaving at the same time,” he said.

The biggest pinch points are on the following routes:

• Route 612 – Warrenton/Gainesville to Pentagon/Navy Yard
• Route 943 – Stafford to D.C.
• Route 953 – Montclair to D.C.
• Route 971 – Dale City to D.C.

Routes 612 and 943 are grant-funded, giving the agency more flexibility to add trips if needed. However, Routes 953 and 971 are locally funded, and Schneider cautioned that OmniRide currently lacks dedicated funding to expand service on those lines.

Commissioners raised questions about how ridership trends align with overall population growth. Staff explained they track commuter lot capacity and development trends — not just raw population figures — to guide service decisions. That includes monitoring ongoing residential growth along I-66 and Route 28, as well as major developments like the planned Manassas Mall redevelopment.

Officials expect to have a clearer picture of ridership patterns by mid-July.

“If the summer dip is minimal, we’re concerned that overcrowding will worsen in the fall,” Schneider added.