Potomac River Orthodontics, led by Dr. Owais Naeem, will mark its first anniversary with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 4 p.m. The event will occur at 12701 Galveston Court, near Hoadly Road and Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge.
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Habitat for Humanity in Prince William County, under the interim leadership of Steve Liga, is recalibrating its mission to tackle the unique challenges of expensive real estate and a community need for home repairs rather than new builds.
Liga, who stepped in as the interim director, detailed how his experience with other nonprofits led him to this role. He explained his immediate focus on stabilizing the organization’s financial footing and reconnecting with the community after a slow period exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Liga, “We should be doing a lot more.” He emphasized the need for Habitat to complete at least one new home every three years to maintain good standing with Habitat International. Currently, the nonprofit holds properties that have been undeveloped for years, which Liga is promptly addressing. “One of the first things I did was come in and say, ‘Let’s look at these two,'” Liga noted, specifying plans to have families move into homes on the properties.
The shift comes as the organization seeks to reinvigorate its involvement in local projects, particularly following a slowdown during the coronavirus pandemic. Liga outlined the organization’s plans to boost the number of home repair projects, emphasizing the critical need within the community, especially among the elderly and those on fixed incomes. “We got months’ worth of backlog of people who’ve applied and need help,” Liga said.
Habitat for Humanity aims to perform critical home repairs weekly and undertake significant projects every quarter. “Every week, we’re out there doing a project,” Liga said. Eligibility for these services is primarily based on income, with priority given to residents earning 60% or below the median area income and those capable of contributing to their repairs, whether through direct participation or other means like volunteering at Habitat’s ReStore at 10159 Hastings Drive in Manassas.
Liga also detailed plans for revitalizing the Habitat ReStore operations, which are crucial in funding the organization’s projects. An across-the-board price increase has been implemented to support Habitat’s mission better. While the Habitat ReStore in Manassas has been a success at its current location since 2016, a now-shuttered ReStore location in Woodbridge faced challenges due to the pandemic and strategic missteps. “Instead of doubling [Habitat ReStore’s] clientele as anticipated, they just split it,” Liga remarked.
The store was in an old Food Lion store near Prince William Parkway and Minnieville Road.
Addressing staff concerns at the ReStore, Liga plans to improve benefits to reduce high turnover rates and ensure better customer service through a more stable workforce. “The turnover is high. It’s not a great paying job,” he said, laying out his plan to make staff positions more attractive and stable.
As Habitat for Humanity Prince William County celebrates its 30th anniversary, Liga is clear about the direction forward: focusing on critical home repairs and better leveraging the ReStore to fund these projects. “The 30th-anniversary campaign is building up the donor base, letting them know that when you’re donating, what that’s doing is that’s helping your senior citizen neighbor fix their roof,” Liga stated.
Liga said there will be no significant gala event to celebrate the milestone few nonprofits reach. Instead, the focus will be on direct community impact, with funds raised going straight into local projects.
Fredericksburg’s STEP VA Inc. has announced Disney’s “Finding Nemo, Jr.” will be its 2025 spring musical. The organization, which empowers people with disabilities through artistic expression, has chosen the show as its fourth licensed musical, following previous productions like “The Lion King, Kids!” and “Seussical Jr.”
The STEP VA musical selection committee of 14 STEP VA participants ranging from middle school-age to adults worked together over four sessions to narrow down show options. The committee then presented the options to the production team, who made the final choice and submitted it to the licensing organization for approval.
The musical will be performed on April 12-13, 2025, at Courtland High School.
STEP VA, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 2013, provides sensory-based theater and arts programs that empower people with disabilities and their families.
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) has been awarded the prestigious Magnet certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, an honor distinguishing it among the top tier of hospitals nationwide.
During a recent interview with Potomac Local News, Jeff Joyner, President of SNVMC, and Christy Grabus, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, they discussed the significance of this recognition. “Magnet certification is not an easy designation to obtain. It involves a rigorous, multi-year process emphasizing a commitment to nursing excellence and the highest quality of care,” explained Grabus.
The certification process typically spans about five years for first-time applicants and includes extensive data submissions and a comprehensive site visit. “It sets the stage to ensure that nurses have a voice in decision-making at the point of care,” Grabus added, highlighting the hospital’s democratic approach to staff involvement through multiple councils and teams.
Joyner emphasized the direct benefits to the community, stating, “Achieving Magnet status is not only about internal recognition but also impacts how we recruit top talent and improve patient care.” He noted that Magnet facilities attract professionals who are looking for a supportive and innovative working environment.
The hospital’s efforts to achieve this status were driven by a desire to enhance care quality and nurse satisfaction. “Our nursing team is integral, standing side by side with our patients every day, making their voices pivotal in our operations and community outreach,” Joyner said.
SNVMC’s Magnet recognition places it among the less than 10% of hospitals in the United States to hold this credential, underscoring its commitment to superior care and professional nursing practice. As part of the Sentara Healthcare system, which includes 10 hospitals with Magnet status, SNVMC continues to lead in setting standards for patient care and nursing excellence across the region.
The hospital has implemented a robust shared governance structure that includes the formation of six distinct councils, which have evolved from an initial two. These councils, along with several specialized teams, play a pivotal role in shaping patient care strategies and operational policies. “These councils and teams allow for a flow of ideas and ensure that everyone’s voice can be heard, from the ground level to system-wide initiatives,” Grabus stated.
From Prince William police:
The Prince William County Police Department will host a community fair on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, to celebrate the county’s diversity, to embrace unity among the various communities in the county and showcase the many facets of police work in the county with displays, fun activities, appointments with a recruiter, pet adoptions and much more.Â
The event is from noon to 4 p.m. at the Sean Â
Connaughton Plaza, 1 County Complex Court, Â
Woodbridge, VA 22192. County residents are Â
cordially invited to the community fair, which also Â
will feature displays from numerous County publicÂ
safety agencies and other County government Â
organizations, live music and food trucks.Â
Background investigators and recruiters will be Â
present to speak to anyone interested in a career as a police officer. The Department is committed to a diverse workforce and encourages all interested applicants to contact the Prince William County Police Personnel Bureau at (703) 792-6580 or visit the Department’s recruiting website at www.joinpwcpd.org.Â
The Manassas Rotary Club is gearing up to host its Second Annual Cornhole Tournament on September 29, 2024, at The Salisbury Center in Manassas.
This event promises to be a fun-filled day for participants of all ages while supporting a worthy cause—Willing Warriors, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic retreats for wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families.
The tournament is divided into three categories: children’s games, adult social, and competitive tournaments.
The day kicks off at noon with the children’s games, where young participants can enjoy at least two guaranteed games for $20 per child. Following that, the adult social begins at 1 p.m., offering a more laid-back experience with four guaranteed games for $30 per person. No partner is required for the adult social, making it easy for anyone to participate.
For those who are more competitive, the competitive tournament starts at 3 p.m. With a $30 entry fee, players are guaranteed four games and a chance to win a share of over $3,000 in cash payouts. The format will switch to blind draw, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.
In addition to the games, the event will feature over $1,500 in prizes and giveaways.
All proceeds from the tournament will benefit Willing Warriors, of Haymarket, helping the organization continue its mission of providing a peaceful and supportive environment for service members and their families to recover and reconnect.
To register for the tournament, participants can visit the event registration page.
Last year, the event raised more than $20,000 for Semper K9 Assistance Dogs.
Prince William County Parks and Recreation has launched a new mobile application, RecMapper, designed to help residents and visitors easily access information about the county’s parks, facilities, and historic properties. The app is now available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
The RecMapper app offers a range of features to enhance users’ experiences. Through the app, users can view photos and details of various parks, playgrounds, pavilions, fitness centers, pools, and other amenities.
The app allows users to search for facilities by map or list, filter results based on specific needs, and get directions to their chosen locations. Sports teams and leagues can also find specific field locations within parks, while other users can stay updated on upcoming activities and events. Additionally, the app includes a feed of the department’s social media posts, accessible without needing a social media account.
Amir Wenrich, Prince William County Parks and Recreation spokesman, highlighted the app’s goal of making park information more accessible to the community. “We encourage everyone to download the app on your mobile device and start exploring our parks virtually and planning your next visit,” Wenrich said.
The app’s development was driven by the need for an improved user experience compared to the previous web-based version of RecMapper. According to Wenrich, the earlier version lacked the capability to offer detailed information on park amenities, prompting the department to create a more advanced tool. The development process for the new app took a little over six months.
In terms of community engagement, Wenrich expressed optimism that the app will encourage more residents to explore the county’s parks and take advantage of recreational activities they may not have known about. The department plans to track user engagement and trends over the next six months to inform future strategies.
Looking ahead, the app will continue to evolve with planned updates, including the addition of detailed trail information, gamification features like contests and scavenger hunts, and push notifications to keep users informed about new developments.
Since the app’s launch, initial feedback from users has been positive. Many have expressed excitement about discovering new parks and amenities they were previously unaware of. However, as of now, there are no partnerships with local businesses or organizations to promote or enhance the app’s features.
The Workhouse Haunt returns for its 11th season, featuring the theme “Twisted Tales of Terror” with a creepy outdoor trail and live-action scenes of classic fairy tales gone wrong. Running from October 4 to November 2, the event includes Halloween-themed entertainment, food, and drinks, with tickets starting at $25 per person and special sensory-friendly trail times on October 20.
Press release:
Get into the spooky spirit of Halloween at the Workhouse Haunt! Back for its 11th season, one of Northern Virginia’s most popular Halloween events is bringing even more scares (and laughter) to its creepy outdoor walk-through trail. The Haunt will lead guests on a frightening journey that brings them along the abandoned, historic buildings of the former prison, where they will encounter terrifying characters and sights and sounds that are not for the faint of heart. This year’s event, Haunt: Twisted Tales of Terror will run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Oct. 4 through Nov. 2 and Thursday, Oct. 31, Halloween night. Tickets are on sale now; prices start at $25 per person. Visit www.workhousearts.org for schedule and event details.
This year’s theme, Twisted Tales of Terror, features more than a dozen creepy live-action scenes portraying classic fairy tales gone wrong, including Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Pinocchio and more. To keep everything moving along, guests will travel in small groups via a timed entry. While waiting for their timeslots, or following their trail experience, guests can enjoy Halloween fun in the Rizer Pavilion: DJ-mixed music (Fridays, Saturdays, and Halloween Night); refreshments at the bar, including Halloween-themed alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks; sweet and savory food truck treats; and Halloween art and trinkets in the Haunt Pop-up Shop.
“The Workhouse Haunt is a Northern Virginia favorite,” said Joseph Wallen, Director of Performing Arts/Keith Gordon, President and CEO. “It’s not only Halloween entertainment, but also as an extension of the Workhouse Performing Arts program, allowing the local community, youth and adults, to practice their acting skills, set production and overall theatrical skills with the training of seasoned professionals. This year we have nearly 100 paid and volunteer participants.”
Haunt: Twisted Tales of Terror Schedule:Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October
Gates open at 6:30 pm, first group dispatched to trail at 7 pm On Fridays and Saturdays, final groups will be dispatched by 10:30 pm
On Sundays, final groups will be dispatched by 9:30 pm
Thursday, October 31, Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2
Gates open at 6 pm, first group dispatched to trail at 6:30 pm
Final groups will be dispatched by 9:30 pm
The Haunt is generally not recommended for children under 13 years old; however, special designated sensory friendly trail times are available on Sunday, October 20 for families that would like to experience the trail without strobe lighting, overall lower volume levels of sounds, and scares that are not as intense. See the website for specific times.
New This Year
The Workhouse Arts Center fall theater season kicks off with the production of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors. During the month of October, guests can purchase a combo ticket that includes Dracula and the Haunt trail on the same night. See th website for specific dates and times.
The Workhouse Arts Center is located at 9518 Workhouse Way in Lorton.
Prince William Times: As part of its sustainability strategy for 2030, IKEA’s Woodbridge store has unveiled new vegan and vegetarian menu items as well as new shopping options aimed at encouraging reuse and reducing waste.
