Many went to the Dollar Tree in Gainesville to find a note on the door stating that it was closed until further notice.

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Carol “Sally” Keller, an 86-year-old memory care resident of The Wellington at Lake Manassas, was granted a years-long wish to go sailing with her family again.

David Keller, Sally’s son, said he grew up going sailing with his mother because it was a long-standing family tradition; Sally’s uncle had a 46-foot sailboat and her husband had a 17-foot sailboat that they often sailed on the Potomac River, the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River.

Sally moved into The Wellington around five years and during the COVID-19 pandemic, she “visited” her family via video call, frequently when they were sailing.

“Mom would see the boat in the background and always said, ‘I want to go on your boat,'” David recalled. “[It was] probably not the world’s safest idea.”

David said he and his sister had reservations about taking her out on another boat as she grew older and her dementia progressed. But, that’s when Marie Garner, the Inspiritás — or memory care program — coordinator at The Wellington, approached the family with the facility’s “WOW Moment” initiative.

The initiative aims to provide “residents with a personalized experience that reminisces on times past, checks something off a bucket list or honors them in some way,” a press release states. These occur once a quarter for the memory care residents.

Even with this proposition, David and his sister were hesitant.

“We had to wait to find a big enough boat that was safe enough, had walls and … [we] thought we could get her on and off of,” David said. “My mother [can still walk], sort of, but she’s stubborn enough to not want to ride in a wheelchair or use a walker. There were some challenges, but I think she actually had a good time.”

Sally is minimally verbal, but according to David, she spoke some words during their trip across the Potomac. She was able to see some ducks following the boat and verbalized “ducks” in recognition of the group.

David said it was evident through her facial expressions that she recognized she was on a boat and wasn’t afraid.

“She wasn’t afraid of anything, which was another concern of mine,” he said. “I didn’t know how she was going to react [to the movement], but she was totally fine with all of that.”

The family even took her to the outside section of the boat on the way back so she could feel the breeze on the water.

“Other than being afraid of losing her hat, she seemed to enjoy that,” David said.

David said despite his initial reservations, he would encourage others to not be afraid to try an experience like this for their loved ones.

“If the activities director calls you up with a crazy idea, just go for it.”

Police are searching for four people who broke into a home on Sterling Point Drive in Gainesville. Investigators have clear pictures of them, and they’re asking for your help to find the suspects described below.

See the photo gallery with the suspects above, and sign up for our free news email so you’ll know when these guys are caught.

More from Prince William police:

Residential Burglary – On July 1 at 4:44PM, officers responded to a residence located in the 14000 block of Sterling Point Dr. in Gainesville (20155) to investigate a burglary. The investigation revealed between 3:33PM and 3:58PM, four unknown individuals forcibly entered a rear deck door into the home. Upon leaving the residence, the suspects, three women and one man, got into a gold minivan and drove out of the area. Jewelry, a wallet, and an undisclosed amount of money were reported missing. The investigation continues
as officers attempt to identify the individuals involved in the incident.

Suspect Descriptions:
A woman last seen wearing a patterned gold/black headscarf, a black long-sleeve shirt, a long blue skirt, and carrying a colorful patchwork sling bag.

A woman last seen wearing a black/white striped head scarf, a white medical face mask, a white
long-sleeve shirt, white sweatpants, white tennis shoes, and carrying a small black purse.

A woman with black hair and a medium build
Last seen wearing a black baseball-style cap, a grey long-sleeve shirt, a long grey skirt, black shoes,
and carrying a small black cross-body purse

A man with a large build and a goatee
Last seen wearing aviator-style sunglasses, a white short-sleeved hooded shirt, and black shorts

The Amateur Radio Service has been around for a century. In that time, it’s grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators (“hams”) using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology.

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Federal Realty Investment Trust has acquired Virginia Gateway, a 1.3 million-square-foot regional shopping center in Gainesville.

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A homicide investigation is underway after a man was found shot dead in a vehicle on Cadet Court near Gainesville early on Thursday, May 23. Detectives believe the incident is not random and seek information from the public to aid the investigation. We’re working to get more information from the police.

What we know now from Prince William police:

Homicide Investigation – On May 23 at 2:42AM, officers responded to the 12000 block of Cadet Ct in Manassas (20109) to investigate a shooting. The investigation revealed two adult men were sleeping inside a vehicle parked in the above area when one of the men was shot. The injured man was pronounced dead on the scene. The other man was not injured. Detectives are actively investigating the incident to determine what led up to the shooting and are seeking to speak with anyone who has information to aid in the investigation. Preliminarily, the incident does not appear to be random. The identity of the deceased will be disclosed pending notification of a next-of-kin. More information will be released as it becomes available. The investigation continues.

Get ready for an enchanting afternoon of live music at The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm, featuring the talented Carleigh Jane.

The event, set to take place on Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 3 to 5 p.m., promises to be a delightful experience for all music lovers. Jane, a gifted acoustic musician and emerging songwriter, hails from Virginia and has captivated audiences with her musical prowess from a young age. Her journey began with piano lessons at age five, followed by professional vocal training at eight. By age ten, Jane had already taught herself to play the ukulele and acoustic guitar, and she seamlessly integrated the electric guitar into her performances.

At just 12 years old, Jane took the spotlight as a solo artist, charming audiences in local music venues and quickly becoming a well-known figure in Old Town Manassas. Her reach has since expanded to venues across Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Richmond, and Washington, D.C.

Her diverse musical style spans from the hits of the 70s to today’s popular music, showcasing her versatility and genuine passion for music. In addition to performing covers of beloved songs, Jane is an aspiring songwriter. Attendees may even get the chance to hear some of her original compositions during the performance.

The Winery At Sunshine Ridge Farm sits at 15850 Sunshine Ridge Lane, Gainesville.

This summer, New York style bagels and hand-scooped ice cream are coming to Gainesville. Two foodies with bagel and scoop training are opening side-by-side restaurants for the food they couldn't find in their new town.

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