The old Don Pablos restaurant turned Wawa? [Insidenova.com]
Are Democrats making inroads into the Republican stronghold 40th House District in western Fairfax and Prince William counties held now by Tim Hugo? Democrat Donte Tanner managed to win his party’s nomination without a Primary Election, but can he win the General Election on Tuesday? [Insidenova.com]
A six-car crash led to Route 3 in Fredericksburg being closed for several hours on Thursday afternoon. [Free Lance-Star]
So far on a crowd-funding website, they’ve raised $8,000. But the Farifax County School Board needs about $1 million to change the name of a high school. [WTOP]
It will be union labor for a new 300 mph train that could be built between Washington and New York City. [Washington Business Journal]
You’ll remember her from “All in the Family” and “Gilmore Girls,” as well as her appearances on stage here at the Riverside Dinner Theatre in Fredericksburg. Sally Struthers shares her life lessons with Mary Washington University students. [Free Lance-Star]
Over the past six months, we’ve stopped sending so many weekly emails.
This week we retired our “Potomac Local Biz” email that we sent on Wednesday mornings. It was designed to be a collector, or snapshot of the business stories that we posted during the previous week, allowing readers to click the link to the story on PotomacLocal.com and read the post in its entirety.
While I think it’s important to highlight the businesses in our region opening, growing, expanding, and in some cases closing, the content in the Wednesday email was redundant. It’s no secret that readers could just as easily find the same content in our Breakfast Links email, sent each weekday.
Back in March, we put to bed the Mug Shot Monday email that we sent on, you guessed it, Mondays. It was, for a time, not only our most-subscribed-to email newsletter, it was also our most-read newsletter.
We also had more complaints about Mugshot Monday than any other. Many said they didn’t like the concept of receiving a collection of mug shots in their email at the start of the work week. Others said it simply did not fit the Potomac Local brand, which over the past seven years has become synonymous with informative local news.
So, we bid Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen, adiós, farewell, and “don’t let the door hit ya…” to those newsletters.
We will, however, keep sending Breakfast Links. Many of you have not only praised our weekday morning effort but have bombarded me with emails on days we didn’t send out our morning briefing. Many asked if they had been removed from our mailing list.
You haven’t. We promise.
Breakfast Links will become the only email we send on a regular basis.
I recognize that email is quickly becoming the method of consuming not only local news but information of all types. Emails are subscription based, they cut through social media algorithms that may keep you from seeing your favorite content on Facebook, and they deliver sought-after news and information right to your phone, tablet, or laptop.
In the coming weeks, I plan to make improvements to our weekday morning email by making it more personable, more informative, and more fun. I’d love to have your suggestions on how we can improve.
Please, stay tuned. And sign up for it if you don’t already receive it.
From Stafford County Sheriff’s Office:
Stafford, VA. A traffic stop conducted by deputies with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office early on Thursday morning resulted in the arrest of a wanted suspect on drug charges.
On November 2, 2017 at approximately 12:01 a.m., a Stafford deputy observed a vehicle exit the Motel 6 parking lot on Warrenton Road. The deputy ran the license plate number on the vehicle and learned that the owner’s driver’s license was revoked.
He initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver of the vehicle as John Edward Coleman, 47, who advised that his license was revoked. The passenger in the vehicle, James Wilson Jackson, 43, told the deputy there was a warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge out of Stafford County. Read More
MANASSAS — Historic Manassas is not only drawing new businesses and people seeking to experience its vibrant downtown culture, it is also luring real estate developers.
These developers recognize that there is a current lifestyle trend with people who want walkable neighborhoods with easy access to amenities like coffee shops, restaurants, art venues and unique shops.
Two new apartment complexes, Manassas Station and Messenger Place, are currently under development in Downtown.
In an email, Nicole Smith, Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Manassas said, “Manassas Station is a three-story, 105-unit complex that will offer one and two-bedroom studio apartments ranging in price from $1,300- $1,700.
“The real estate developer, Christopher Companies has built the complex on 3.5 acres of land where the former ABC Photo and Imaging Services building was located.”
Manassas Station began construction in fall of 2016 and is expected to be completed in December. Renters will be able to sign contracts on the new apartments in December with an expected move-in date of January.
The developer of the Manassas Station also developed another popular apartment complex in the city.
“We enjoyed working with Manassas City Officials on our previous Manassas location, The Courts at Historic Manassas. When the opportunity arose to develop this new property, it just made sense,” said Craig Havenner, President of Christopher Companies.
Christopher Companies is one of the leading builders of EnergyStar certified homes in the region.
“Our properties are designed and built with respect for the environment. Energy and resource efficiencies are built into every new site we develop. Our Manassas Station location has been constructed so our renters can enjoy and take advantage of the local neighborhood and local amenities. A dog park with an agility course has been added to the property for our pet owners. And commuters will appreciate the fact that we are within walking distance of the VRE station,” said Havenner.
Another new development will sit on the land that used to house the city’s now-defunct daily newspaper, the Manassas Journal Messenger, which closed in 2012. Weber Rector Commerical Real Estate Services started development in May of 2017 on Messenger Place in downtown Manassas.
“Messenger Place is a five-story, 94-unit complex that’s being built where the former Manassas Journal Messenger building was located,” said Smith in an email. “It will also contain 3,500 square feet of retail space.”
Retailers have yet to rent space in the building.
Chuck Rector, Vice President of Weber Rector said in an email, “Construction on Messenger Place is expected to be completed at the end of June 2018. There will be a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments. The apartments should be ready for occupancy in July of 2018.”
Concurrent with the development of Messenger Place, Weber Rector is also developing another apartment complex, Abberly Averra, at University Village. Abberly Averra will consist of 336 apartments near the Prince William County George Mason Campus.
From Prince William County police:
Attempted Malicious Wounding – On October 31 at 8:54 p.m., officers responded to the Willowbrook community pool located at 1375 Walnut St in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate an assault.
The investigation revealed the victim, a 26-year-old man, and the accused, an acquaintance, were involved in a verbal altercation which escalated. During the encounter, the accused slapped the victim in the face then got into her vehicle and attempted to run the victim over. The parties eventually separated and the police were contacted. Minor injuries were reported by the victim.
Here’s a look at what’s making news this morning around the region…
Despite a couple of spikes in Northern Virginia, this past summer’s air was among the healthiest in memory across the commonwealth. [Insidenova.com].
The rate of babies born prematurely in Virginia has reached its highest point in seven years, but researchers say the reason remains a mystery. [Free Lance-Star]
The water tower that looms 78 feet above Prince William Parkway near Potomac Mills mall is undercover, at least for now. [Prince William Times]
Delegate Rich Anderson has represented the 51st House District (Prince William County) in the Virginia General Assembly since 2010. He is a retired 30-year Air Force colonel who now co-chairs the joint House-Senate Military and Veterans Caucus, the central clearinghouse for bills that affect veterans.
Two years ago, Andeson ran unopposed. In 2013, Anderson won re-election by seven points with 53% of the vote.
This year marks the first time Anderson’s Democratic opponent, Hala Ayala, is not only a female but the local chapter presdient of the National Organization of Women.
This election season, we’re asked candidates who wish to reach our readers a “why you should vote for me” email by Oct. 27, 2017.
Anderson sent us this email:
Over the course of our combined 51 years of military service, my wife Ruth and I wore the Air Force uniform and worked in partnership during our two lifetimes of service. After retiring from military service, we chose to continue our partnership, but this time in public service—she as the Occoquan District Supervisor on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and me as the 51st House District Delegate to the Virginia General Assembly.
Service is the lifetime thread that ties Ruth and I to one other—and to the community, we love to serve. With that commitment to our fellow citizens, I am again a candidate for reelection in Virginia’s 51st House District.
As a native and life-long Virginian, I graduated from Virginia Tech and have been a resident of Prince William County for almost two decades. First elected in 2009, I have served in the General Assembly for eight years (four terms) and have accumulated the required seniority that permits me to pass consequential legislation on behalf of our community and Commonwealth. This year, I had one of the highest success rates in the House in passing legislation that focused on job creation, economic development, transportation, education, public safety, and military veterans. Read More
From Prince William County police:
Attempted Strong-Armed Robbery – On October 30 at 8:35 p.m., officers responded to the 15700 block of Silent Tree Pl in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate a robbery. The investigation revealed the victim, a 43-year-old man, was delivering a pizza to a home in the above area.
The residents of the home informed the victim they did not place the order. When the victim returned to his vehicle, he was approached by two unknown men who then attempted to rob him. During the encounter, the men implied they were armed and demanded the victim’s property. No weapon was seen. When the victim refused to comply, the suspects fled on foot. No injuries were reported. A police K-9 searched for the two suspects who were not located. Read More
From Virginia Lottery News:
“I just screamed in my car with all the windows up!”
That’s how Woody Simmons said he reacted to discovering he’d won the $10 million top prize in the Virginia Lottery’s Extreme Millions game.
It happened in the parking lot of Optimax Service Center, 13505 Minnieville Road in Woodbridge. Mr. Simmons, who works for the Postal Service, said he often shops there. He happened to see a sign about the new Scratcher game while he was in the store.
“I thought, ‘Well, let me take a chance,’” the Hyattsville, Maryland, man said. Read More
