I just finished watching The Social Dilemma on Netflix.

It’s worth a watch, and it was one of two final programs I wanted to watch before my subscription to the service goes dark on October 1. Our family decided to cancel the service following its marketing campaign for Cuties, which debuted earlier this month.

After watching the documentary, I find myself in a social media dilemma.

• Pageviews on our site, potomaclocalnews.com, over the past 30 days, is up 30%.
  
• We have not been able to post anything to our company’s Facebook page since August 21.
  
• Facebook says we’re not registered as a news organization.
  
• Facebook rejected my first attempt to register our site. It says it cannot verify our business telephone number.
  
• I tried again and I’ve yet to receive a response.
  
• This is despite the great help I’ve received on this issue from the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University.
  
• Following our reporting on the Black Lives Matter protests at the Prince William Board of County Supervisors meetings, some took to Facebook to call for defunding us.
• I don’t know, and may never know what effect this had on the way Facebook views my business.
• I credit our page view growth to our growing list of 14,000 email newsletter subscribers, which has increased 300% since April 1.

I know Facebook is an avenue for people to find our news. Hell, I relied on it to practically build my business — especially 10 years ago, in the early days.

However, now I’m wondering what its worth to keep badgering Facebook to allow us to once again post content. Essentially, begging Facebook to let it sell ads off of our hard work.

Increasingly — and we’ve known this for years — on the internet, if you’re not paying for the service, you’re the product. Your data is being used and sold to advertisers so they can target the right ad to you at the right time.

We’ve never done this. We don’t offer “geo-targeting,” or any other type of targeting. Our content is local news, so by definition, our news is already targeted to local residents.

At Potomac Local News, you’re not the product. The news is, and that’s one reason why the number of paid subscribers to our site continues to grow.

Meanwhile, in recent months when we could post to Facebook, many of our sponsored posts for our advertising clients — none of which were political ads— were rejected. The majority of them were for community events.

Among our audience on Facebook, interaction has been declining. And, surprisingly, comments on our site — which, for years, had been nearly non-existent — are increasing in numbers.

I’m at a crossroads, and the decision I make could have a lasting effect on my business.

Good Morning Prince William – Halloween is almost here, and Historic Manassas is hosting a “Mask-querade” Ball on October 31 at Harris Pavilion.  Volunteers are needed to work a 4-hour shift as set up crew, thermometer readers, ticket sales and check-in, game attendants and costume contest judging.  Masks must be worn; volunteers can come in costume.  Please email [email protected] for more information on this fun event.

Non-COVID-19 Opportunities:

• BEACON for Adult Literacy urgently needs volunteers to become virtual technology facilitators for their morning fall classes operating now to November 12. Classes are held Monday and Wednesday morning, 9am-11am. Volunteers will provide technical support via Zoom for instructors of online classes 2-4 hours a week. Basic knowledge on hosting meetings and using Zoom features preferred. Please fill out an application at https://beaconliteracy.org/get-involved/volunteer-application/. For more information, call 571-422-2242 or email [email protected].

• For Children’s Sake of Virginia urgently needs Virtual Tutors age 18+ to help foster children with their schoolwork.  Volunteers can assist any weekday or evening on a wide variety of subjects from elementary through high school.  These foster youth are struggling and now that school continues to be virtual, they need some serious help from dedicated tutors.  Please contact Kelley at [email protected] for more information.

• Save the Date!  Keep Prince William Beautiful will hold their October Cleanup in Dumfries on October 10, 10am-1:30pm.  Meet at 17755 Main Street in Dumfries; volunteers will spread out to remove litter from the public spaces.  Please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/keepprincewilliambeautiful for more information on how you can participate.

• Here’s a unique way to donate food and fight hunger!  Manassas Hunger & Homeless Outreach Ministries is holding a Virtual Food Drive through November 30 to benefit Manassas Mobile Home Park.  Residents of this community have been severely impacted by the loss of jobs and income due to COVID-19 and your donation will help to replenish their community food pantry.  Please visit https://www.fooddriveonline.org/manassasfoodpantry/MHHO to learn how you can help.

• Mark your calendar!  Prince William County Solid Waste Division and Keep Prince William Beautiful will be holding their first-ever Fix-It Fair on October 17, 10 am-4 pm, at Connaughton Plaza, 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge.  It’s a great way bring your salvageable items for repair and reuse!  Repair work will be done by appointment only and pre-registration is required.  Please visit www.KPWB.org/events to sign up for an appointment.  Please email [email protected] for more information.

• Prince William Food Rescue (PWFR) can still use volunteer Food Rescue Heroes as the program is super busy delivering food to both ACTS and SERVE homebound clients.  Volunteers in the Gainesville/Haymarket area are especially needed!  Home food deliveries are no contact and follow social distancing guidelines.  PWFR is an app-based program enabling volunteers to pick up viable, close to expiration food from supermarkets, restaurants, food pantries, etc., and then deliver it to a program that can immediately use the food. More info on PWFR may be found at https://pwfoodrescue.org/.  Please contact Shirley at [email protected] or call 703-441-8606 ext. 212 for more information.

• The Salvation Army is collecting items for seniors and vulnerable populations. You can help by creating care packages from the security of your own home and safely dropping items at their Prince William location in Woodbridge. Food items such as canned soups/other dry or canned foods are requested.  Non-food items such as socks, toiletries, diapers/baby wipes, and sanitizing supplies are also needed.  Donated items can be dropped off at 1483 Old Bridge Road, Suite 102, Woodbridge 22192.  Please email Angela at [email protected] or call 703-580-8991 to learn more.

• SERVE’s Hunger Resource Center needs Food Recovery Driver volunteers to make routine pick-ups from grocery stores and restaurants.  Shifts are Monday-Friday, 8 am-12 pm with a commitment of at least one day a week.  This is a long-term commitment of at least six months.  Volunteers must be at least 21 years old with a valid driver’s license.  Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.  Ride-along training with experienced volunteer or staff and vehicle provided.  Please email [email protected] for more information.

COVID-19 Volunteer Opportunities:

The Community Feeding Task Force Operations Center in Manassas needs strong volunteers age 18-55 on Friday afternoons from 12noon to 3pm to help with large end-of-week pick-ups for the community food pantries and restocking.  This is a very busy time of the week since many pantries offer food distributions on the weekend.  You’ll feel great as you work hard to provide food for vulnerable families in our community!  To register, please visit www.volunteerprincewilliam.org to create an account, then Respond to this opportunity (“Community Feeding Taskforce Warehouse Friday Afternoons”).  Please email [email protected] for more information.

Medical Reserve Corps  Support your local health department and your community during a public health emergency!  Volunteers are needed to support several missions, including public health education and outreach, disease investigation, vaccine clinics, and more!  Medical experience is not required; they have roles for everyone!  Bilingual volunteers are especially needed.  Volunteers must be 18 years of age, complete minimum training, and pass a state background check to serve.  Please fill out an application at vamrc.org.  Questions?  Please email Amy at [email protected] for more information.

• ACTS and the Community Feeding Taskforce (CFT) are in urgent need of Volunteer Delivery Drivers (non-CDL) to deliver food daily from the CFT Warehouse in Manassas to multiple food distribution sites.  Volunteers must be able to maneuver pallets using a pallet jack and assist with loading the truck from the CFT Warehouse and then unloading pallets at the destination.  Volunteers should be able to lift 40 pounds.  Must have a valid driver’s license; non-CDL is okay.  A background check is required.  All ACTS Volunteers must first complete and submit the online volunteer application found at actspwc.org.  Please contact Shirley at [email protected] to learn more.

• American Red Cross needs volunteers to be Shelter Service Associates in the event of a disaster during COVID-19.  Volunteers work in person in a Red Cross shelter before, during, and after a disaster event, completing tasks necessary for shelter operations and providing assistance for disaster clients. Duties include working in reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information, or other areas within a shelter.  Please email [email protected] for more information.

If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call our wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William at 703-369-5292.  You can also visit our website at www.volunteerprincewilliam.org.  Thanks so much for all you do in our community.

If you have lost your job, there are a number of tax issues you may encounter. How you deal with these issues can profoundly impact your taxes and finances.

During a visit to my barber this week, I learned that many small business owners and their employees are still hurting financially. Many in shops across our region are longing to see their customers’ faces.

Box-box stores and drive-through restaurants appear to be fine. Now — when they’re struggling the most — we must provide small business owners the tools necessary to help them and their employees win back customers and rebuild their businesses.

That’s why, starting today, we’re going to help small businesses get Back on Top!

You can submit a link/post in the Community Bulletin Board section that appears at the TOP of our email newsletter (a section formerly called “A Word From Our Sponsors”) for only $49 per link/post.

• When clicked, the reader is taken to a press release or short blurb, and photo you’ve submitted.
• We will provide you a full content analytics report for your post at NO extra charge.
• I regularly charge $299 per link/post.
• SAVE $250, and put that money back into your business.

The Community Bulletin Board is the first thing readers see at the TOP of our weekday email newsletter

• Our newsletter reaches more than 13,500 0pt-in registered users — absolutely no spam here.
• You can post to the Community Bulletin Board using this link.
• Click this link to see a copy of yesterday’s email newsletter.
• Our email newsletter is the biggest thing we do every weekday!
• The link/post will show in the section for at least three to five days (display time will vary depending upon the number of submissions). I want it to show for as long as possible.

If you have questions, please email me at [email protected].

Thank you for the continued support of small businesses in our community.

Flu season is fast approaching. Sentara hospitals usually see an increase in flu cases around mid-September and early October.

This year, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors say it’s critical to get your flu shot.

As part of Sentara’s commitment to keeping our communities safe, on Saturday, October 17, 2020, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center will host a free drive-thru flu shot event while supplies last. This first-come, first-served event is at Christ Chapel, 13909 Smoketown Road in Woodbridge.

This free event is available for adults, 18 years of age, and older. Patients will receive a flu shot without ever leaving the comfort of their vehicle. The public must wear a mask and all COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at all times.

Health experts warn with nearly 200,000 COVID-19 related deaths in the United States already, another respiratory illness could increase the chances of residents catching both diseases at once. In addition, flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19. Both viruses are more severe for the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions. Getting a flu shot to prevent the flu will allow healthcare professionals to better manage the COVID-19 pandemic, save thousands of lives, and preserve health care resources.

As part of Sentara’s commitment to keeping our communities safe, all Sentara employees, volunteers, and non-employed partners are required to receive a flu shot each year to help protect the communities we serve.

Drugstores and pharmacies are also offering flu shots, generally covered by insurance. Sentara patients can schedule an appointment online and
visit their primary care office for a flu shot. For more information, please visit sentara.com/flushots or to schedule an appointment with a Sentara Medical Group provider, visit sentara.com/getcarenow.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, the IRS postponed the original due date for filing 2019 returns to July 15, 2020. If you could not complete your 2019 tax return by July 15 and filed a request for additional time to file, that extension expires on October 15, 2020. Failing to file before the extension period runs out may cost you late-filing penalties.

While volatility has always been part of the stock market, 2020 has certainly brought a lot of uncertainty in the market and the world at large.

Live at noon on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, Potomac Local News Publisher Uriah Kiser will hold open office hours.

Chat with us about how we cover local news in our community. Ask us questions. Pitch us stories.

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Average mortgage rates have been declining since the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic first prompted stay-at-home orders in March.