Russell Harrison is running to the be the next Manassas City Treasurer. This is his second time around running for the office.
This is his second time around running for the office. Harrison lost by three points to current officeholder Patricia Richie-Folks during a special election held last November.
This election season, we’re asking candidates who wish to reach our readers a “why you should vote for me” email by Oct. 27, 2017.
Harrison sent us this email below:
I am a nonprofit executive and former Manassas Volunteer of the Year, and I would like to be the next Manassas City Treasurer. I am running to restore the professional standards to the office that many in Manassas believe have slipped.
The City Treasurer is a full-time professional position. We need someone who understands how to run an office, understands laws and regulations, and who understands complicated finance and budgeting. We need someone who can lead.
I do and I can. I am the only candidate with the background to do the job right.
I am currently a senior executive with the IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. There I manage a professional staff that I built over the past several years. My career with nonprofits has spanned over 20 years and includes earning my CAE (Certified Association Executive), the highest level of professional certification in the nonprofit world. Read More
This summer, we first told you about improvements coming to Byrd Park in Manassas.
City officials cut a ribbon, heralding the end of a $150,000 capital improvement project at the park.
Park improvements include a new playground suitable for all ages featuring the cozy cocoon, funnel tunnel, tube slide, rocking turtle, music panel and more. The Cozy Cocoon is specially designed for children with autism with features like a space to escape overstimulation and windows on both sides for adult supervision. This is the second cozy cocoon in the City.
Along with new play equipment, the basketball, roller hockey, and Bankshot basketball courts were resurfaced and repainted. Bankshot basketball is designed to encourage players to play with, not against, others. This is a non-running, non-exclusionary sport that accommodates wheelchair players, the physically and cognitively challenged and anyone else who wishes to play.
A new sail shade was added near the concession stand for picnics and shade.
Other park improvements include:
Two new picnic tables
Six new benches
Seventeen new trash/recycling receptacles
Refurbished basketball posts, backboards, and nets
Refreshed picnic pavilion; and a grill
The project included removal of hazardous trees, repairs around the courts, a refreshed parking lot; and flyer holders in the park restrooms for City of Manassas events.
Two Girl Scout troops, Troops 6848 and 4413, have adopted the park to keep it clean and have just recommitted for two more years.
STAFFORD — Fire and rescue officials in Stafford County rolled out new ambulances this week.
The total cost was $841,784 ($280,594.67 each), we’re told.
From a press release:
Stafford County Fire and Rescue placed three new 2017 Horton ambulances in service this week. The new units have been assigned to Falmouth Station 1, Stafford Station 2, and Potomac Hills Station 10 as advanced life support units.
Each of the three units is equipped with a new stretcher and lift system, designed to ease patient loading and unloading into the unit and reduce the possibility of injury to first responders. “The Stryker Power-LOAD system enhances safety by supporting the stretcher during the loading and unloading process. This also reduces the strain on the backs and legs of our staff which helps prevent repetitive lifting injuries.” Chief Lockhart explained. In addition to the three new units being equipped with the system, four current units are being retro-fitted with the same system.
Lockhart said the current units are being rotated to other stations to continue their service life. Under a proposed fleet rotation system, vehicles in the Fire and Rescue fleet will rotate based on established criteria to ensure maximum service life and prevent excessive mileage in a short period of time.
From a press release:
Expedia.com, a major travel websites, named the City of Manassas one of America’s most tourist-friendly cities. Criteria for this designation were: helpful tourism board; things to do; quantity/quality of hotel options; access to an airport or major transit center; city/discovery tours; and amenities and weather ratings.
On a scale of one to five star ratings, the City of Manassas scored five stars in amenities, and scored highly in other areas as well. On expedia.com, the City of Manassas is described as:
“Thirty miles from Washington, D.C., and surrounded by nature, Manassas is happily situated for tourists who like to explore. The Manassas Museum System offers tours for the knowledge-thirsty, while just plain thirst is quelled at family-run BadWolf Brewing Company, where the atmosphere is way friendlier than the name suggests. Get your days going at cozy Jirani Coffeehouse, complete with an in-house library. Visiting in fall? Take the family to nearby Cox Farms for the Fall Festival and meet the locals (and a few llamas, rabbits, chickens, and goats). Back in town, fill up at Okra’s Cajun Creole and see a show at Hylton Performing Arts Center.”
“We are thrilled to receive this designation,” said City Manager W. Patrick Pate. “The City, with our tourism partners and businesses, work hard to create the events and amenities that make our City welcoming to both residents and visitors.”
Democrats in Manassas and Manassas Park protested Thursday night and threatened boycott city businesses over a vendor table at the Manassas Fall Jubilee.
Democrats requested a booth at the 35th-annual festival last night after learning Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock would have a similar booth. Of the 110 vendors at the sold-out event, most include craft makers and food vendors.
In previous years, politicians have not been invited to exhibit at the fair.
A city spokeswoman confirmed with Manassas Local that Comstock requested and was granted her booth two months ago. Following the protest, we’re told the Democrats will now also have a table at the fair.
Prior to getting the booth, some Democrats took to email to express their outrage over Comstock’s table at the Jubilee, and some of those emails were obtained by Manassas Local.
“This is such typical bullshit. It’s obvious which party they support.
I am planning to boycott all merchants who are members of [Historic Manassas, Inc.] and will encourage everyone I know to do the same.
No more trips to Old Town Manassas for me.”
To get the booth, Co-chair of the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee Allen Muchnick sent this email:
On behalf of the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee, I ask that HMI designate a well-sited vendor booth space for our organization at your Fall Jubilee event this Saturday.
According to your vendor application guidelines for this Saturday’s event posted on page 2 at [ https://visitmanassas.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Fall-Jubilee-Application-20172.pdf ],
Vendor space is limited. Vendors are selected based on relevance to the event. No political parties will be accepted.
[emphasis added].
Furthermore, multiple members of our local Democratic Party Committee repeatedly asked HMI staff about granting our organization booth space at the 2016 and 2017 Fall Jubilees, and they were consistently told that both events would be closed to political party organizations.
Nevertheless, we learned today that both the Manassas Republican Committee and Rep. Barbara Comstock are listed as 2017 Fall Jubilee vendors.
Such blatant partisan political favoritism is patently unfair and will not stand.
I ask that you promptly approve our request for a well-sited vendor booth space at the Manassas Fall Jubilee this Saturday. We are prepared to supply our own 10’x10′ canopy, folding table and chairs, and 2017 political campaign materials.
The annual Fall Jubilee is Saturday, Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Downtown Manassas.
From police:
Reckless Handling of a Firearm – On October 5 at 11:03PM, officers responded to the Liberty service station located at 3511 James Madison Hwy in Haymarket (20169) to investigate a shooting. The investigation revealed that the victims, a 55-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman both of Berrymill, reported to police that they were retrieving property from their vehicle which they had towed to the service station earlier that week. At some point, the business owner, later identified as the accused, arrived in his vehicle and became involved in a verbal altercation with the victims. During the encounter, the accused brandished a handgun and fired one round into the air. The victims fled the area and contacted police. When officers arrived and made contact with the accused, officers observed drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view in his vehicle. Following the investigation, the accused was arrested without incident. No injuries or property damage were reported. A shell casing and two handguns were recovered.
Arrested on October 6:
Omar Ali AWAD, 52, of 4580 Lawnvale Dr in Gainesville
Charged with and reckless handling of a firearm, possession of a firearm while in possession a controlled substance, and possession of a scheduled I or II narcotic
Court Date: December 5, 2017 | Bond: Held WITHOUT Bond
A group of eight business owners gathered at CENTERFUSE on Friday afternoon to discuss the future of Manassas.
Among the things most said they liked about the city, “the reliable electricity,” said Delegate Jackson Miller (R-Manassas) who also owns Crossroads Realtors in the city’s downtown.
“If the power does go out, it’s usually because of a squirrel, and it’s only out for 30 minutes,” said Manassas Community Development Director Liz-Via Gossman, who led the exchange.
The topics ranged from development to affordable housing. Some in the group said they don’t want to see more apartments and condos built in the city.
Some in the group said they don’t want to see more apartments and condos built in the city. Others advocated for condos that sell for $350,000 and above.
“I see Manassas looking more and more like Clarendon in Arlington,” said one man.
Miller said Manassas has its fair share of affordable housing, and that it doesn’t need anymore. He said the city should not attract any more government-subsidized housing to include Section 8, voucher programs, or tax credit housing.
Others who spoke said the reputation of the city’s school system and higher tax rates force those relocating to the area to settle outside the city limits in places like Brentsville, Haymarket, and Gainesville.
Miller, a Realtor, agreed. “I’m glad you said that, so I’m not the only one saying that,” he told a woman who informed the group she chose a home in Gainesville over Manassas.
“The schools in western Prince William are always highly rated,” she said.
Others suggested the city do more to encourage healthy eating and exercise. Another suggestion: installing new wayfinding signage so drivers can find their way to Downtown Manassas from area artery roads like Prince William Parkway and Route 234.
Friday’s roundtable was part of a series of community conversations city staff are holding as part of an ongoing sampling of public opinion. A final report on the city’s listening tour that has taken place over summer and fall will be presented at Baldwin Intermediate School on Nov. 20.
“We buy bargains and sell cheap” is the business approach for Ollies, according to company spokesperson Jerry Altland.
Come Nov. 1, Ollies will be opening a 25,000 square foot store at Manaport Plaza at Sudley and Rixlew Roads, across from Manassas Mall.
Ollie’s, in business for over 35 years, is a value-oriented retailer, offering 30 to 70 percent off retail prices for all manner of goods, according to Atland.
Ollies will be hiring 40 to 50 people for its opening. will be open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The stores will be open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
