At its Dec. 10 meeting, the Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) Board approved the school year calendars for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, opting for earlier starts to the year.
In a 4-2 vote with one abstention, the School Board voted to start on Aug. 12 in the upcoming two school years. The Board members who voted in favor of earlier start dates, or Option A, said they did so to remain in line with the survey results.
According to a non-scientific poll conducted by MCPS in the fall, 59% of parents and 63% of staff members preferred Option A. Only 13% of respondents made comments on the poll, and among those most vocal were parents who preferred Option B, or a start for students in the third week of August.
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Manassas City Council met for the final official time in 2024 in a nearly 2.5-hour meeting, sending off Vice Mayor Pamela Sebesky and approving the Safford Subaru expansion.
Council will be on a two-week recess beginning Dec. 16 through the holiday season. Their first scheduled meeting back will be in early January.
Council unanimously approved the combination of the service and sales buildings of the Safford Subaru dealership on Liberia Avenue. The special use permit filed by the dealership details a nearly 40,000-square-foot building with interior and exterior updates to help the business run more efficiently.
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Manassas is at a crossroads, striving to honor its Civil War legacy while addressing the challenges of modern growth. This was the key takeaway from a community research report conducted by North Star, a branding and development consulting firm, and presented during a joint Manassas City Council and Economic Development Authority meeting on Dec. 2.
The survey, which sought to measure resident perceptions and identify growth opportunities, underscores the city’s dual identity: a historic landmark with a vibrant, modern beat. North Star conducted the online survey, which garnered responses from 1,520 residents, including 1,118 from Manassas. Nearly 20% of participants identified as Hispanic, Latin American, or Caribbean, reflecting the city’s diverse population. The survey had a margin of error of ±2.51%.
Participants were asked to evaluate the city across several dimensions, including quality of life, economic development, and cultural identity. Key findings included:
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Significant advancements regarding dam safety improvements for the Lake Arrowhead and Lake Carroll communities were announced at the November 19, 2024, Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting.
Board Chairwoman Meg Bohmke of Falmouth said that grants totaling $1.25 million were secured through the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Safety, Flood Prevention, and Protection Assistance Fund.
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Neabsco Regional Park is set to feature another recreational amenity, a new boat launch, by the New Year.
In the music world, the influences and power don’t seem to come from the female side of the industry, so Ionna World is taking a step to change that. She totes her guitar and songs around locally, but World seems to have her sights on the whole world when it comes to women in music.
Behind that message, she formed RVA Broads, a group that she is organizing to support women in music. Right now, it’s through word of mouth and social media, but it may get more organized as her career gets established. She'd like to address the number of women at the top in the music-producing industry.
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A Prince William County resident is without a car after a simple fender-bender became an insurance scam.
On November 9, 2024, Bethany Selvage was awakened by her neighbor’s call that they had accidentally hit her parked 2018 Nissan Sentra while backing out of their driveway. A police report was filed, and Selvage called her insurance company to get it repaired.
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On November 19, 2024, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously (7-0) to adopt the 2024 Transportation Master Plan (TMP) as an appendix to the county’s Comprehensive Plan. This update lays the foundation for long-term transportation improvements, addressing existing and future needs through a strategic, phased approach.
The Transportation Master Plan was initiated in 2022 at the direction of the Board of Supervisors. The plan aligns with Stafford County’s Strategic Priorities and builds on transportation studies and community input. A major component is its performance-based approach, which prioritizes projects to maximize safety, reduce congestion, and improve multimodal accessibility.
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The City Council unanimously approved the appointment during its Nov. 25 meeting, emphasizing Burke's experience and commitment to the community.
Burke will begin his tenure on Feb. 3, 2025, make a $246,000 annual salary, and bring over two decades of public administration experience to his new role. He has previously served as town manager for Front Royal and Luray, Va., where he was credited with implementing infrastructure projects and fostering community engagement. In January, Burke joined Manassas as the Director of Public Works, where he spearheaded improvements and built a rapport with city staff and residents.