Although the area has already braved several winter storms in 2025, Fredericksburg’s Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is still eight days away. 

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The Manassas City School Board met on February 5, 2025, where members discussed the Manassas Education Association’s (MEA) decision to initiate a collective bargaining campaign. The discussion revealed concerns about funding, legal implications, and the potential impact on the school division’s ability to retain teachers.

Board Chair Suzanne Seaberg opened the discussion by acknowledging the Manassas Education Association notification that they intended to begin their campaign: "The MEA would like to initiate their collective bargaining campaign. So we can talk about that in the future, or if you have any questions now, we can try and address them. We’re gonna have to budget more money for the attorneys. It’s gonna be a lot."

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The Fredericksburg City Council has appointed Susanna Finn to fill the vacant Ward 3 seat following the resignation of Dr. Timothy Duffy earlier this year. The decision was made during a Special Session Meeting on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Judge Gordon Willis, Presiding Judge of the Fredericksburg Circuit Court, administered the Oath of Office.

Finn, an urban planning professional and Chair of the Fredericksburg Planning Commission, brings a decade of experience in city planning and holds a certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners. She also has an educational background in historic preservation from the University of Mary Washington.

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At Potomac Local News, we value our readers’ feedback. Recently, we surveyed to learn what you think about our email newsletter and the local news coverage we provide. Your responses helped us better understand what works, what could be improved, and what content you’d like to see more of.

High Satisfaction and Relevance

The majority of respondents rated their overall satisfaction with the newsletter highly, with an average score of 4.6 out of 5. Many of you appreciate the local coverage and the stories we feature daily. Readers also found the content highly relevant, with several respondents mentioning their preference for local political updates, community events, and coverage of notable figures in the area.

What You Enjoy Most

When asked about their favorite types of stories, readers highlighted:

• Local events and activities
• Political updates and government news
• Stories about small businesses and community leaders
• Coverage of Manassas Park and Stafford County

Some of you also expressed interest in more technology news, high school theater coverage, and updates on tax expenditures in Prince William County.

Newsletter Frequency – Just Right or Too Much?

We asked how you feel about receiving two newsletters per day. The responses were mixed:

• Most readers (about 60%) are happy with the current schedule.
• Some prefer receiving just one newsletter per day.
• A small number remain undecided.

Based on this feedback, we’ll continue monitoring engagement and make adjustments if necessary.

Reading Habits and Engagement

A strong majority of you—over 70%—read the newsletter every day. That tells us we’re providing valuable content that keeps you informed. However, when it comes to engaging with links and ads:

• Some readers frequently click on news stories within the newsletter.
• Others rarely click, preferring to skim the headlines.
• Event listings and community updates were among the most clicked-on content.

This insight helps us refine the way we present links, ensuring the most important stories stand out.

Design and Layout – Room for Improvement

While the content scored well, opinions on the newsletter’s design and layout were more varied. Some readers rated it highly, while others felt it could be improved. Several respondents mentioned they had no major issues, but a few suggested tweaks to make navigation smoother.

Your Suggestions for Improvement

Many readers were satisfied with the newsletter, with some saying it’s “Good as is!” However, a few areas of improvement emerged:

• More in-depth coverage of government spending and tax allocation.
• Increased coverage of technology and local high school theater programs.
• Clearer formatting and design improvements for readability.

What’s Next?

We’re taking your feedback seriously and will work on implementing the changes that matter most to you. You can expect:

• Continued coverage of local government, business, and community events.
• Possible adjustments to newsletter frequency based on engagement.
• Improvements to newsletter design and layout for a better reading experience.
• Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us!
• If you have additional feedback, please email us or post your suggestions online in the comments section. Your input helps us continue delivering the local news you care about.

Thanks for your continued support.

Uriah Kiser
Founder and Publisher
Potomac Local News

Set sail for a night of mystery and adventure with Who Killed Jolly Roger? on February 14, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the ARTfactory in Manassas. This immersive murder mystery, directed by Talya Conroy and written by Robert J. Leblanc, brings together a rowdy crew of pirates, thrilling twists, and plenty of audience interaction.

Guests are encouraged to wear pirate-themed attire for a chance to win a costume contest. Enjoy a four-course meal, join in a 50/50 pirate cash booty giveaway, and bid on silent auction treasures. Tickets are $85 through February 7, with table reservations available.

Want your event featured? Submitting is FREE and easy! Just visit this link to fill out the form and share your upcoming event with our readers. Don’t miss your chance to spread the word!

 

Four female athletes from Prince William County were among those who attended the February 5, 2025, signing ceremony, where President Trump issued an executive order barring transgender athletes from participating in women's sports.

The president framed the order as a defense of women's athletics against unfair competition, stating, "Under the Trump administration, we will defend the proud tradition of female athletes, and we will not allow men to beat up, injure, and cheat our women and our girls. From now on, women’s sports will only be for women."

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The Manassas Regional Airport is on the verge of a major transformation as it progresses toward becoming a Part 139 certificated airport, a designation that would allow it to offer commercial airline service. This advancement, along with ongoing modernization efforts, was a key focus of the latest Manassas City Council meeting on February 10, 2025.

Airport Commission Chairman Rod Hall underscored the significance of the upcoming certification, noting that it would place Manassas in an elite category.

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The Prince William County Animal Services Bureau has obtained a Virginia state license to operate a veterinary clinic at the Animal Services Center. The clinic will provide medical care exclusively for animals under the bureau’s care, improving efficiency in treating injured, ill, and routine medical needs.

The clinic will be led by Dr. Kimberly Nelsen, an veterinarian specializing in shelter medicine. Dr. Nelsen, a Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine graduate, has extensive experience in both rural and large-scale veterinary care and was recently recognized as one of Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top Veterinarians for 2024.

More in a press release:

The Prince William County Animal Services Bureau, a dedicated leader in animal welfare, is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of a Virginia state license to operate a veterinary clinic at the Animal Services Center. The clinic is specifically focused on servicing the medical needs of animals under the care of the Animal Services Bureau. This significant milestone underscores their commitment to providing comprehensive care for the animals in our community.

“The veterinary clinic will enable us to enhance our existing services and ensure that all animals at our center receive the medical attention they deserve in a more efficient timely manner,” said Anthony Cleveland, Director of Animal Services Bureau. “With on-site veterinary care, the Center will be able to expedite the treatment and triage process for injured or ill animals and provide routine health checks.”

The clinic will be headed by supervising veterinarian Dr. Kimberly Nelsen; supported by a team of two licensed veterinary technicians and a veterinary assistant.

Dr. Nelsen completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2015 from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. During her studies, Dr. Nelsen included a focus on studying shelter medicine and earned a Shelter Medicine Graduate Certificate. Her first position post school was in rural Pennsylvania where she worked as a mixed animal veterinarian, serving five counties, caring for dogs, cats, bunnies, ferrets, big parrots, goats, horses, and cows just to name a few; at times, all in one day. After moving to Northern Virginia, Dr. Nelsen quickly found herself as a medical director, overseeing 27 other veterinarians throughout the state. Her expertise has been sought out by several animal health publications, and most recently she was nominated as one of Northern Virginia Magazines Top Veterinarians for 2024. “I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as the shelter veterinarian and build this program from the ground up” stated Dr. Nelsen.

“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to offer these services to the residents of Prince William County for the first time ever,” said Peter Newsham, Chief of Police for Prince Wiliam County. “When the new Animal Services Center was envisioned, we wanted to ensure there would be space and the ability to provide this level of care. I’m happy to say this is now a reality and we welcome Dr. Nelsen to our team.”

The Animal Services Bureau would like to recognize Dr. Pool, Dr. Myers, and the staff of Deepwood Veterinary Clinic who have provided Prince William County with exceptional care and dedicated services at the center for the last five years.

For more information about Prince William County Animal Services Bureau and our services, please visit our website or contact the Animal Services Center at 703-792-6465.

About Prince William Animal Services Bureau: The Prince William County Police Department’s Animal Services Bureau is responsible for enforcing animal welfare laws, conducting animal education seminars, and operating the Animal Services Center. Animal Control Officers enforce county and state animal care and control laws, investigate complaints of animal cruelty and neglect, quarantine animals that have bitten humans, provide 24-hour service for injured animals, and other animal emergencies, provide public education on animal laws and animal care in disasters, and remove stray animals from public areas.