The Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved the $142 million Balls Ford Interchange Project that is expected to help relieve traffic congestion.
Construction will begin this fall and is expected to be completed in November 2022.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors recently approved the final design for the Prince William Parkway Interchange and Balls Ford Road Realignment project.
According to communications analyst Keith Walker, the project will realign roughly 1.9 miles of Balls Ford Road, between Devlin Road and Doane Drive, into a four-lane, divided roadway. The roadway will also contain a raised median, a sidewalk on one side, and a multi-use path on the other side.
Walker states the project will take Balls Ford Road over the Prince William Parkway with a diverging diamond interchange. The project will also include a bridge over the existing Norfolk Southern Railway.
The Prince William County Department of Transportation will administer the project with state money that came through the Transform I-66 Outside the Beltway Concessionaire Fund. That fund granted $143 million to fully finance the project, according to Walker.
The goal of the completed road project is to relieve existing and predicted future traffic congestion and improve the safety of drivers at the Balls Ford Road-Prince William Parkway intersection, according to Walker.
Anyone with questions on the project can email the project manager Mary Ankers at [email protected] with “Realigned Balls Ford Interchange” referenced in the subject line.
More information about transportation projects in the county is available at pwcgov.org.
A colorful beer has been added to the menu at Old Bust Head Brew and it is available on draft and to-go for customers to come and try.
Old Bust Head Brew calls it: Summer Cherry Wit. It is a tart brew that is made with sweet and sour cherry puree, according to Old Bust Head Brew’s Twitter post.
The brewery stated that they add an orange peel and coriander to give it a spice while the wheat in the brew along with Pilsen malts helps keep the brew smooth and crushable.
?New Beer Alert! ?
Summer Cherry Wit is a tart fruited wit brewed w/ heaps of sweet & sour cherry puree. Orange peel & coriander add subtle spice while wheat & Pilsen malts help keep Summer Cherry smooth and crushable.
Summer Cherry Wit is available on draft & to-go Sat 7/18! pic.twitter.com/gcjQI6U0G2
— Old Bust Head Brew (@oldbustheadbrew) July 17, 2020
Old Bust Head Brewery is located at 7134 Farm Station Road in Vint Hill.
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The 2020 Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) weekend events will shift to virtual-only due to ongoing public health concerns from the coronavirus.
According to a press release from the Marine Corps Marathon Organization, officials have stated how they feel about the virtual event and why they chose that route.
“We explored various approaches to safely execute a live event and held numerous meetings with Marine Corps leadership, local government and public health officials,” said Rick Nealis, director of the Marine Corps Marathon Organization. “We understand this is disappointing news for many, but we could no longer envision a way to gather together in compliance with safety guidelines. While we are unable to celebrate in-person this October, we are excited about the opportunity to bring the 45th anniversary event to the homes of runners around the world through a rewarding and engaging virtual experience.”
According to the press release, the virtual MCM events including the MCM, MCM10K, MCM50K, and the MCM Semper Fun Mile must be completed between October 1 and November 10, the Marine Corps birthday. All participants will receive the corresponding participant shirt, commemorative bib, patch, and/or finisher medal.
Runners will also have access to an online event program, personalized finisher certificate, the MCM audio experience, and several new digital engagement platforms, according to Public Relations Coordinator Jheanel Walters.
Further instructions and a link to the registration change form will be sent this week to the e-mail address provided by participants during registration. The deadline for currently registered runners to take action on the change form is August 5, 2020.
Walters states that runners who are currently in the live MCM or MCM50K category have the option to defer entry to a future year (2021, 2022, or 2023) of the runner’s choice at no additional fee. These runners will have a guaranteed virtual entry available for purchase for 24 hours following initiation of the deferment process.
Runners may also request a full registration refund including carbo dining tickets and bib mail out, if purchased.
According to Walter, runners who already deferred to a future year and paid a deferment fee will receive an automatic refund of the $30 fee and have the option to remain deferred for a later year or request a full registration refund including carbo dining tickets and bib mail out, if purchased.
Walter states runners who previously transferred directly from the live to the virtual event have the option to request a partial refund of the registration fee, minus the $45 virtual entry fee, or cancel their registration and request a full registration refund.
Virtual event registration is open to the public. Entry fees are $45 for the MCM and MCM50K, $33 for the MCM10K, and $20 for the Semper Fun Mile, according to Walters.
Refunds of registration fees will be processed beginning on August 6, 2020 and may take between four to six weeks to complete. Processing fees will not be refunded.
“Health and safety are our top priorities during this challenging time,” said Libby Garvey, Arlington County Board Chair. “The Marine Corps Marathon is a treasured event and tradition in our community that Arlingtonians look forward to each year. As we celebrate the race’s 45th anniversary this year, we will be enthusiastically and virtually cheering on each runner. We can’t wait to welcome these dedicated athletes and fans back to Arlington in person in 2021.”
In addition to marking its 45th anniversary, this year’s MCM commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima by featuring actual volcanic ash collected at that site within the event medal.
Dolores Veronica Maier Roeske, aged 87, passed from this life on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 surrounded by family at the home she shared with her youngest son’s family.
Dolores was born to Wilhelm Maier and Marie Schgoer on December 1, 1932 in Wolf Point, Montana. She was the second youngest of nine raised on her family farm when, as a high school senior, she opted to take an au pair job in town to be closer to school. She graduated high school and moved to Great Falls, Montana with her sister Mathilda (Tillie) where the sisters and their friends attended USO dances. At one dance, Dolores caught the eye of a young airman, Elmer Otto Roeske. The couple married on June 22, 1957 after a yearlong courtship. A family quickly followed with the birth of their first son in 1958. The Air Force moved the family several times over the next 10 years – Illinois to Texas to Arlington, VA during which time the couple welcomed two more sons. Of all the postings, Dolores enjoyed Texas the most, but the USAF had other plans and stationed Elmer at the Pentagon in 1967. When Elmer retired from the USAF in 1971, the couple permanently settled in Prince William County, VA and opened the Triangle Bakery. After the couple entered full retirement, they embarked on many road trips to visit family and friends in Dallas, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, Wolf Point, Montana as well as many other excursions. When they were home, they frequented local berry picking farms, County fairs and area attractions, most times with a grandchild or two in tow.
A devoted Catholic all her life, Dolores was very active in Our Lady of Angels parish, attending daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration and was part of the Catholic Women’s Council. She encouraged her sons to send their children to local Catholic schools and often joined her grandchildren for their weekly Masses and special events. She found solace in praying the Rosary daily and thoroughly enjoyed Mother Angelica’s EWTN programs, but her greatest joy may have been when Elmer converted to Catholicism. She will be fondly remembered for her tender care of Elmer, doting on her grandchildren and her homemade strawberry jam.
Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Rodney of Dallas, TX., Raymond and Stephanie of Lovettsville, VA and Richard and Angela of Montclair, VA, seven grandchildren – Michael (USMC) and wife Ekaterina, Lauren, Christopher (USN), Stephen (US Army) and wife Amanda, Annalea, Nikolas and Richard Joseph (Ricky) – and four great-grandchildren, Rilee Saunders, Chiara, Freya (Michael) and Braylon Thomas (Lauren) as well as her niece Marlene (Lee) Maurer and nephews Doug (Cherie) Heser, Ike Heser and Dean Maier. Survivors from her husband’s side include Connie Rudsinki Pigati, Richard Rudsnki and Sally Rudsinki Pelg, and many great nieces and nephews and dear friends Helen Hackett, Rita and John Cierny.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Elmer, and her brothers, Joseph, William, James, Francis and sisters Marie Heser, Victoria Maier, Mathilda Maier, Genevieve (Sister Mary Cordis) Maier.
The family would like to thank the Adult Day Care Center Staff who provided her a warm and nurturing environment for the last 5 years to spend her daytime hours. VITAS Hospice for their care and compassion her last 2 years.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 26, 2020 at the Mountcastle Turch Funeral Home in Dale City where Life Celebration services will be held from 2:00-4:00PM and 6:00-8:00PM. Her funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis Catholic Church in Triangle, VA on Monday, July 27, 2020 at 11:00AM, with internment at Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle, VA immediately following Mass. Please have a face covering and be sure to practice social distancing while attending the services.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, National Capital Area Chapter, 8180 Greensboro Drive, Suite 400, McLean, VA 22102. We will be setting up a Walk to End Alzheimer’s Team in her honor.
Prince William County has opened eight new pickleball courts at the Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building in Woodbridge.
Many citizens have already been using the courts for a while, but a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony made things official, according to a Prince William County press release.
Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey attended the ceremony and talked about seeing people playing pickleball every day when she arrives at her office at the Ferlazzo Building.
“It’s such a refreshing and reviving thing to see because it lets me know that, in this uncertain time of COVID-19, people are taking care of their health, their hearts and their minds and most of all their spirits,” Bailey said.
The eight pickleball courts replaced several old tennis courts.
“They took a dilapidated recreational space and turned it into something beautiful. There is a huge demand for pickleball,” said Barbara Tyrrell, a USA Pickleball Assoication Woodbridge Ambassador.
J. Hall., now a professional pickleball player, said two 70-year-old women introduced him to pickleball when he was a firefighter in Manassas Park a couple of years ago, according to the press release.
“You see people [from ages] under eight to over 80. It also speaks to the cohesiveness of pickleball. It’s for everybody,” Hall said.
Hall, who goes by “Gizmo Pickleball” when he’s playing professionally, said pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sport in the United States.
“It’s addictive point, blank, period.”
Pickleball is a sport invented in 1965 with a paddle and a ball played on what resembles a small tennis court.
“My introduction when people ask me, ‘What is pickleball?’ is I always tell them it’s like tennis and ping pong had a baby. This will generally get everybody to think and laugh about it, and at that point, I’ve got them just interested enough to… at least get them out to the court,” Hall said.
Woodbridge Pickleball Ambassador Nick Katsarelis said pickleball was born of a backyard game but has grown into much more.
“These courts are great. I have played on a variety of courts in different areas, and these match up with anything I have played on. They’re outstanding. They are fantastic,” Katsarelis said.
Katsarelis also added that the courts promote camaraderie among the seasoned players, who encourage others to learn the game.
“We do very well at trying to keep it open, mixing people, trying to make people feel comfortable and included, whatever skill level they are.”
The press release revealed that Prince William County’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Director, Seth Hendler-Voss, also spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and said people don’t even need equipment when they encounter one of the Woodbridge Pickleball Ambassadors.
“Anyone who happens upon these courts is happening upon not just one ambassador, but hundreds of ambassadors … always willing to loan a paddle out and teach someone to play.”
Bailey said she was ready to meet the pickleball players on their turf.
“I am so excited about the opportunity to get out here and get to know you and let you teach me how to play.”
More information about parks, recreation, and tourism in Prince William County is available at pwcgov.org.
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Newly obtained surveillance video shows a mob of protestors attacked a man outside the Prince William County Government Center in Woodbridge.
The attack occurred just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, just before the start of the Board of County Supervisors meeting. The video shows a 72-year-old man attempting to walk into the government center when he was attacked by a group of protesters who were calling for supervisors to defund the county police department.
No injuries were reported. Three protestors were charged.
The incident comes one month after a contentious meeting of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors when, on June 16, Black Lives Matter protestors called for the defunding of county police and accosted multiple members of the Board of County Supervisors — both Republicans and Democrats.
Following the June 16 meeting, emails poured into the offices of county supervisors showing support for county police.
“Bottom line up front: defunding the police in Prince William County will create more problems than it will solve. The slogan to “defund the police” has been adopted at the national level as a simple first step in fixing racial inequality. Without delving into that unbelievably complex topic, I instead offer to you that the Prince William County Police Department has long demonstrated an ongoing commitment to be professional, knowledgeable, and fair in the execution of their duties to each and every citizen,” penned one resident.
“A friend of mine told me about a recent meeting where many residents showed up and stated their wishes to defund the [Prince William County] police department. I feel the need to voice my concerns about this, and let you know that I have a very hard time believing this is what the majority of people in this county want. We all need our police and we need to support them,” wrote another.
Many more emails called for defunding the police department.
“This past week, our nation has been gripped by protests calling for rapid and meaningful change with regard to police behavior, an end to racism and anti-Blackness, and immediate change in how Black people are treated in America. Our county has been at the forefront of much of this action,” wrote a Woodbridge resident. “Accordingly, it has come to my attention that the budget for 2021 is being decided as these protests continue. The [Prince William County] Police Department has been a waste of our resources.”
The Prince William County Police Department scored a 93% citizen satisfaction rating in the most recent citizen survey.
Who is going to operate a new logistics center that is slated to be built on nine acres of land on Wellington Road in Gainesville?
On Tuesday, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors will vote to rezone over eight acres of land from heavy industrial to industrial/transportation use. The property is located on Wellington, near the intersection of University Drive.
An arrangement has been made by the owners of these parcels to build a logistics center that will be designed by Progressive AE, an architecture and engineering firm with offices located in Michigan and North Carolina, county officials tell us.
This comes after approval from the county’s Planning Commission who approved the rezoning order at its July 1 meeting. The owners of the pair of parcels listed in county documents are L & D NOVA, LLC, 350 South Washington, LLC, The Shawn D. Adler Trust and Superior Properties, Inc. Superior Properties is a subsidiary of Superior Paving which is in Gainesville.
Omitted from county documents is what, or who will operate this new logistics center.
According to Prince William County Assistant Planning Director Stephen Donohoe, the county doesn’t require information on who will be operating on the property that’s being rezoned.
“The Planning Office worked with the applicant’s land use representatives in the progression of this rezoning case. The ownership information and signature is required at the time of rezoning submission, however, the end-user information is not, and is often not provided. This, in part, is because end-users often change and the County does not regulate this. The focus of the Planning Office review is to analyze the proposed land use and offset its impacts.”
The applicants are making several monetary contributions to the County Board of Supervisors as proffers for the zoning ordinance change.
For example, a spill contingency plan will be in place in the event of an incident with chemicals, fuels, solvents, or hazardous materials, county documents state.
Additionally, for the potential environmental impact, the applicants will be making contributions of $75 per acre which with over 8.8 acres would come to a little over $660 for water quality monitoring, drainage improvements and/or stream restoration projects. The reason for this listed in county documents is that there is a 60-foot wide conservation area between the two parcels.
Another contribution will be for fire and safety in which the applicants will pay the County $0.61 per square foot of gross building floor area for any new building on the property to be used for fire and rescue services.
The final decision will come during the evening session of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21.
