Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation: Mason Neck State Park will host the 26th Annual Eagle Festival on May 11 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Park staff along with many exhibitors will be on the visitor center lawn for a full day of animal shows, hands-on activities, and outdoor recreation clinics that aim to highlight the rich natural history of Northern Virginia as well as foster stewardship of our environment.

“Guests will be able to see animals such as hawks and owls up close as well as learn about the majestic bald eagles, with the hopes of seeing one in flight during the event,” said Mason Neck State Park Chief Ranger Jamie Leeuwrik,

Parking for the event this year will be located offsite at Pohick Bay Regional Park at the Pirate’s Cove Waterpark. Shuttles will be provided to and from the festival at Mason Neck State Park and will run about every 15-20 minutes from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The family-friendly event is free and will include a variety of food vendors, musical performances, and a puppet show.

“Caroline Seitz, the star of Kids Nature Shows, puts on such a fun and interactive show for kids and adults to experience the animals they might see at the park,” said Leeuwrik. “There will be a musical performance at 11 a.m. and another at 1:45 p.m. Eagle Festival is a great way to bring together the local community for programs and activities all in the name of conservation and preservation.”

Almost 60 years ago, Elizabeth Hartwell led a successful grassroots effort to preserve more than 5,000 acres of wetland habitats on the Mason Neck Peninsula in Fairfax County. Today her legacy lives on – especially through the annual Eagle Festival at Mason Neck State Park.

This event celebrates the decades of conservation work that has taken place on the Mason Neck Peninsula. Had it not been for the work done by individuals like Hartwell, nicknamed “The Eagle Lady” and for whom the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge is named, the area would look drastically different than it does today.

To conduct disaster recovery testing, the Interstate 95/395 E-ZPass Lanes will undergo a double-reversal overnight from March 22 to March 23, 2024. Transurban will conduct two successive reversals of the Express Lanes from midnight to 4:15 a.m.

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In a bold move to accommodate the region’s growing transportation needs, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has unveiled extensive expansion plans that will transform the commuter railroad landscape by 2050.

The proposal was unveiled at the VRE Operations Board meeting on Friday, March 15, 2024. Backed by financial forecasts and strategic ridership projections, it outlines a comprehensive strategy to enhance service frequency, extend operational hours, and cater to burgeoning populations and evolving travel patterns.

Forecasts indicate a substantial surge in operating costs and revenues by 2050, with projections estimating a 136% increase in operational expenditures and a 63% rise in operating revenues. The VRE Board recommends a significant boost in train frequency, particularly during peak periods on the Fredericksburg and Manassas lines. This initiative is anticipated to attract 21,000 weekday users by 2030, with a further expansion to accommodate 4,500 Saturday riders and 3,700 Sunday passengers.

Under the proposed plan, VRE anticipates adding 116 more trains per day, with 68 trains operating on Saturdays and 60 on Sundays. The Fredericksburg line will extend south of Spotsylvania County with a bus service to Hanover County from Fredericksburg. Similarly, the Manassas line will stretch service beyond the Manassas Regional Airport, with a corresponding bus service from Manassas to Culpeper County.

However, future infrastructure constraints loom large, particularly regarding midday train storage capacity in Washington, D.C. Despite identifying a suitable site capable of housing 13 trains, logistical challenges persist, necessitating careful planning to ensure seamless operations. With every six trains arriving in Washington D.C., four will be required to return to Virginia, highlighting the complexities of managing the expanding network.

Ridership forecasts show exponential growth, with an estimated average of 28,100-weekday passengers and 10,820-weekend travelers anticipated by 2050. This represents a 262% increase in ridership since 2014, underscoring the imperative for phased infrastructure development and strategic expansion initiatives.

VRE officials say their transportation service of choice fosters meaningful connections and catalyzes economic opportunities in a safe, sustainable, and equitable manner. However, questions linger regarding the accuracy of population projections amid evolving telework trends, prompting stakeholders to scrutinize the reliability of regional travel models and their adaptability to dynamic socio-economic factors.

In February 2024, VRE saw 6,900 average daily riders, down from 20,000 in February 2020 (a CEO report for February 2020, the last showing its pre-pandemic ridership numbers, has been removed from its website). By comparison, an average of about 4,400 people choose to ride OmniRide commuter buses.

Sarah Romero documented the VRE Operations Board meeting.

Police in Stafford and Fairfax counties say they arrested a suspect in the slayings of 18-year-old Amy Baker and 4032-year-old Jaqueline Lord in 1989 and 1986, respectively.

Stafford County Sheriff’s Major Shawn Kimmitz credits the excellent work of detectives from both agencies, who used DNA evidence to identify a suspect.

On November 14, 1986, Lord, was working at Mount Vernon Realty in the 300 block of Garrisonville Road. She was last seen that evening at 9 p.m. as the business closed. Lord never made it home.

The next morning, employees of other businesses in the area prepared to open for the day and discovered a crime scene at the realty office, which indicated a struggle. Lord and her vehicle were both missing. Stafford County detectives, assisted by the Virginia State Police Crime Scene Unit and the FBI processed the scene and collected blood and other evidence.

The following day, two teenagers played in a wooded area off Route 1 at Railroad Avenue in Woodbridge, about 20 miles north of the realty office. They discovered a body beneath a pile of discarded carpet. Stafford detectives joined Prince William detectives and the FBI to process the scene and identified the deceased as Lord.

Lord’s missing vehicle was located abandoned in Fairfax County on December 18, 1986, leading to the recovery of additional evidence. Over the years, detectives from multiple federal and state agencies followed up on countless leads and conducted interviews, eliminating numerous suspects and persons of interest.

The FBI created a task force combining the efforts of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, Prince William County Police Department, the FBI, and the DEA. DNA was extracted from the evidence, but repeated searches of the Virginia and National DNA Databanks via CODIS, in addition to direct comparisons against submitted persons of interest and familial searches, failed to identify the killer. The leads were exhausted, and the investigation was moved to cold case status.

At the order of Stafford County Sheriff David Decatur, D.K. Wood explored a new technology, forensic investigative genetic genealogy, to help identify the killer.

Wood worked with Parabon NanoLabs, a company providing DNA phenotyping. The analysis of the DNA linked the Lord’s murder to the unsolved 1989 murder of Amy Baker in Fairfax County. A Stafford resident, Baker, ran out of gas while traveling on Interstate 95 and pulled off the highway at Backlick Road in Fairfax County.

Baker met her killer while walking toward a gas station. She was raped, assaulted, and left for dead in the woods.

On December 14, 2023, identified their suspect. Detectives followed up on the leads this technology created and ultimately obtained a search warrant for DNA from Stafford County residents. In February, the Department of Forensic Science reported that the DNA matched.

On March 4, Elroy Harrison, 65, was indicted by a Stafford County Grand Jury for first-degree murder, abduction with the intent to defile, aggravated malicious wounding of Lord, as well as breaking with the intent to commit murder.

He was arrested at his Stafford County home on March 5 and placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. Cold Case detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department are working alongside the Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth Attorney to seek charges against Harrison for the murder of Baker’s murder.

More as we have it.

Suppose the latest idea on the Interstate 95 E-ZPass Lanes comes to fruition. In that case, drivers can access lanes in both directions during rush hours, creating a busier highway transportation system while offering more choices to drivers.

In the plan, there will be two lanes heading in the rush hour direction and one the opposite way. The details for this more accessible travel plan, as are many other factors, including construction, are still in the works.

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Fairfax County’s first winery, Paradise Springs Winery, is part of an exclusive contingent from the Commonwealth of Virginia as it becomes one of just six state wineries to be showcased on the global stage at the 5th Wine Paris Vinexpo Paris this week, bringing Fairfax County’s wine scene into the spotlight.

The winery, already the first bi-coastal wine brand in the United States after opening a second location in Santa Barbara, CA, will showcase several of its key blends, including last year’s Virginia Governor’s Cup Case Winner, the 2021 Petit Verdot, at the Wine Paris Vinexpo event. The renowned international wine and spirits exhibition, one of the largest wine shows in the world, is scheduled from February 12 – 14 in Paris, France.

In addition to the Petit Verdot, the winery will also be pouring the Cabernet Franc Petit Manseng and the specialty PVT (50% Petit Verdot/50% Tannat), which will also be served at the U.S. Ambassador’s home during the U.S. Ambassador Dinner this week.

“To think of the journey we’ve been on since opening the winery over 18 years ago, to now have our wine being well received globally by audiences in different regions that are known the world over for producing excellent wines, is a really satisfying feeling,” said Kirk Wiles, CEO & Founder of Paradise Springs Winery. “Having served as the chairman of the Virginia Wine Board for 8 years now, we’ve always had a vision for where Virginia wine can go, and to be here in this moment is validating for the Commonwealth – being recognized as producing some of the best wine in the United States. The goal is to reach new audiences that don’t know the quality of Virginia wine, and the more people that know about our exceptional product, the higher the demand will be.”

Paradise Springs, nestled in Fairfax County’s bucolic town of Clifton, has been family-owned and operated for 18 years. The historic property where the winery is located was part of the original land grant from Lord Fairfax in 1716 to the family’s direct ancestors and has been passed down through the generations since.

Sentara sponsors Play4Kay Pink Game

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George Mason University is implementing enhanced security measures to prioritize the safety and security of all attendees at the upcoming Spring Commencement and individual college and school degree celebrations.

Security checkpoints will be set up at the entrances to EagleBank Arena’s Spring Commencement and the various degree celebrations at EagleBank Arena and the Concert Hall, on the Fairfax Campus. All graduates and guests must pass through these checkpoints, where thorough security procedures will be conducted.

Both Spring Commencement and the college and school degree celebrations will require tickets for entry. According to the university, implementing a ticketing system allows for better control over the number of attendees and helps ensure that only authorized individuals gain access to the venues.

The university will augment its security staff presence at key venue locations. Trained security personnel will be positioned to monitor the event areas.

The Spring Commencement is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 9 at EagleBank Arena . During this ceremony, doctoral candidates will have the honor of crossing the stage and receiving individual recognition. Bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates, on the other hand, will be acknowledged as a group by major from their seats.

For the college and school degree celebrations, taking place from May 9 to May 11 at EagleBank Arena or the Concert Hall at the Center for the Arts on the Fairfax Campus, bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates will be recognized by name. The Antonin Scalia Law School will host two separate degree celebrations, one at Van Metre Hall at Mason Square and another at the Concert Hall.

Due to the growing size of the College of Engineering and Computing, it will conduct two degree celebrations on May 9 at EagleBank Arena. The complete degree celebration schedule and additional ticketing information for both the Commencement and the degree celebrations will be available in the coming weeks.

Notably, doctoral candidates, advisors, and faculty will gather for a Commencement morning breakfast on the East concourse of EagleBank Arena. The morning will feature a processional involving doctoral candidates, faculty, and platform guests.

George Mason University celebrated the achievements of nearly 11,000 degree and certificate earners at the 2023 Spring Commencement.

 

Prince William County Public Schools: “Due to hazardous road conditions forecast for areas of the county between 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. Friday morning, January 19, 2024, all Prince William County Public Schools and Offices will be closed Code Red.”

Stafford County Public Schools: “Updated: Due to adverse road conditions primarily in the Northern area of Stafford, all Stafford Schools are now closed on Jan 19. No buses, virtual instruction, or afternoon activities. At this time, we will proceed with Saturday activities as scheduled.”

Manassas Public Schools: “Due to the forecasted inclement weather, MCPS will be closed Friday, January 19, 2024. Code Blue for employees.”

Fairfax County Public Schools: “Fairfax County public schools and central offices will be closed Friday, January 19, 2024.”

King George County Public Schools: Updated:
“Due to the inclement weather and current road conditions, King George County Schools will be closed today, January 19. Code 1 for 12 month employees.”

Spotsylvania County Public Schools: Updated: “All Spotsylvania County Public Schools are closed today, Friday January 19, 2024. 12-month employees Code 2 – report two hours late as safety permits. Essential personnel will report at specified times. Weather conditions will continue to be monitored. A decision on after school and evening activities and non-school events will be made by noon.’

Fredericksburg Public Schools: “Fredericksburg City Public Schools will be closed today, Friday, January 19, due to current weather conditions that make travel unsafe. Employees are on Code Red. Essential workers should contact their supervisor regarding report times.”

Northern Virginia Community College: “NOVA will be closed on Friday, January 19, due to inclement weather. Both in-person and virtual classes and services are canceled for the day.”

George Mason University: “Mason Alert: @GeorgeMasonU is closed today, Friday, January 19, due to inclement weather.”

Stafford County Government: “Stafford County Government offices will open on a two-hour delay on Friday, January 19, 2024, promptly starting at 10:00 a.m. The Regional Landfill and Belman Road Recycling will open on time. Stafford County Public Schools will be closed. The Voter Registrar will open on a two-hour delay. The Circuit and District Courts will open on time. Juvenile & Domestic Court will open with a two-hour delay.”

Prince William County Government: “Due to the potential impacts of weather conditions on January 19th, Prince William County Government’s operating status is OPEN. Employees have been granted the option of unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework. Essential personnel should report to work as scheduled.”

Prince William County Courts: “ALL Prince William Courts are Closed today, Friday, January 19, 2024, due to inclement weather.”

Central Rappahannock Regional Library: “Delayed Opening on Friday, January 19. All branches scheduled to open at 9:00 on January 19 will open at 11:00.

We’ll post more as they come in.