If you’re looking for the luck o’ the Irish, there’s no better place than local. Music, food, entertainment and of course, festive libations, abound in our area. Check out the fun and make some plans. (Potomac Local reminds everyone to please drink responsibly).
3/14 Hylton Performing Arts Center’s 8th Anniversary Gala and After Party (Manassas)
Enjoy a reception, dinner and silent art auction. Black tie optional; open to ages 21 and over. The Gala supports the Hylton Center’s many artistic performances, arts education programs and outreach initiatives, as well as the Hylton Center’s Endowment.
3/16 – St. Patrick’s Wine Dinner at Rangoli (Manassas)
Enjoy a four-course dinner with unlimited paired wines and a specially chosen chef’s menu.
3/16 – Wearing of the Green Celebration at Potomac Point Winery (Stafford)
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style this year with Potomac Point Winery. Wear your most festive green attire to come wine and dine Friday, March 16th. A special Irish bistro menu will be served and the wine will be flowing. Partake in the annual Leprechaun Toss or sit back and enjoy Friday night music. Wine discounts available.
3/17 – 6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company’s St. Patrick’s Day Bash & Beer Release (Stafford)
They’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day the best way they know how….with craft beer, music and food. Join the party for the release of their Irish Red, as well as live music from Marc Allred and Karen Jonas. Enjoy corned beef sandwiches in addition to the usual bbq menu. All ages welcome, must be 21 to drink.
3/17 – Adventure Brewing Company’s St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival (Fredericksburg)
The 16th Annual Jeff Fitzpatrick St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts off at noon and includes fire trucks, classic cars, high school marching band, community organizations, Irish dancers, horses, military equipment and local pageant winners. The parade ends at A. Smith Bowman Distillery, where Adventure Brewing will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Festival including local vendors, live music and entertainment, family-friendly activities, food from local food trucks, and of course, plenty of beer. The brewery will be collecting food for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank.
3/17 – History of Cooking: St. Patrick’s Day at Ben Lomond Historic Site (Manassas)
For St. Patrick’s Day, join the PWC Historic Preservation team at Ben Lomond Historic Site and the Pat White Center at Ben Lomond as they make traditional Irish cuisine as it would have been made in the days before electricity and pasteurization.
3/17 – St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Sinistral Brewing Company (Manassas)
St. Patrick’s Day at Sinistral Brewing Company means good beer, good music & good times. There will be sing-alongs. There will be bagpipes. There will be Irish dancers, and yes, there will be lots of green.
3/17 – St.Paddy’s Day Party & Steal the Glass at Ornery Beer Co. (Woodbridge)
The Party’s at Ornery Beer Company for St. Patrick’s Day!! Tapping their newest IRISH STOUT at 12pm Noon and visitors can Steal the Glass: First 300 guests keep their special St. Paddy’s Day Pint Glass!!
3/17 – St. Patrick’s Day Party at BadWolf Brewing Co. (Manassas – Kao Circle)
Specialty Cask, Irish Dancers, Phat Yummies Food Truck: Phat Yummies Quesadilla Cantina On Wheels & Kilt Contest at 8:30pm – come dressed in your best outfit!!
3/17 – Shamrock & Shenanigans at Brew Republic Beirwerks (Woodbridge)
Join the Brew Republic team on Saturday, March 17th, starting at 9am for kegs and eggs in the tap room! They will be serving Irish breakfast (eggs, hash browns, sausage, bacon, etc.) and we’ll also be serving non-breakfast Irish fair throughout the day.
3/17 – St. Paddy’s Day Celebration at Tim’s Rivershore (Dumfries)
Spend the day on the Potomac River enjoying live music, drinks & food specials to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style at Tim’s Rivershore.
3/17 – Bar Louie’s Annual St. Pat’s Day Bash (Multiple)
Grab your crew and Unleash Your Leprechaun at Bar Louie this St. Patrick’s Day! Get “Lucked Up” at the best party outside of Ireland with drink specials and live entertainment! Check out your local Bar Louie for details. Locations:
- Bar Louie Manassas: 9501 Liberia Ave, Manassas, VA 20110
- Bar Louie Gainesville: 14081 Promenade Commons St, Gainesville, VA 20155
- Bar Louie Stonebridge: 15001 Potomac Town Pl Suite 100, Woodbridge, VA 22191
3/17 and 3/18 – Prince William Humane Society’s St. Pittie’s Day O’Dopt-a-thon (Dumfries)
Come adopt a loving pet looking for a forever home! Pit mix adoptions will be half price at the Adopt Shop (17983 Dumfries Shopping Plaza, Dumfries, VA) and the Prince William County Animal Shelter. This event is sponsored by the Prince William Humane Society.
From the Prince William police press release:
Armed Robberies *ARRESTS – On March 5, detectives from the Robbery Unit identified two suspects involved in two separate robberies that occurred at the Rimpal Inn and Suites located on Old Centreville Rd on December 5, 2017, and the Holiday Inn located on Balls Ford Rd on December 7, 2017. Following the investigation, detectives obtained multiple arrest warrants of both suspects, identified as Brendon M. PAINE and Robert Jamal JACKSON. On March 8, PAINE was arrested without incident following the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Fairfax. Further investigation determined that the firearm used in the robberies was recovered when JACKSON was arrested on December 13 following a traffic stop for a traffic violation. JACKSON remains incarcerated at the Adult Detention Center and was served with the additional charges.
Arrested on March 8:
Brendon M. PAINE, 19, of 6515 Terry Dr in Springfield
Charged with 2 count of robbery and 2 count of use of a firearm in commission of a felony
Robert Jamal JACKSON, 24, of 8529 Piney Point Ct in Manassas
Charged with 2 count of robbery, 2 count of use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and 2 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Court Date: April 10, 2018 | Bond: Both were held WITHOUT bond
Armed Robbery [Previously Released] – On December 7 at 12:22AM, officers responded to the Holiday Inn located at 10424 Balls Ford Rd in Manassas (20109) to investigate a robbery. An employee reported to police that an unknown man entered the business and approached the front desk. During the encounter, the suspect brandished a handgun and then demanded money. The suspect took an undisclosed amount of money before fleeing the area on foot. No injuries were reported. A police K-9 searched for the suspect who was not located. The investigation continues.
Armed Robbery [Previously Released] – On December 5 at 11:44PM, officers responded to the Rimpal Inn located at 7399 Old Centreville Rd in Manassas (20111) to investigate a robbery. An employee reported to police that an unknown male wearing a mask jumped over the front counter and brandishing a handgun at the employee. During the encounter, the suspect forced the employee to open the register to obtain money. The suspect then fled the business on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. No injuries were reported. A police K-9 responded to search for the suspect who was not located. The investigation continues.
We know what it’s like to live in this area. Between the busyness of everyday living, the demands continuously made of us and the traffic, it’s enough to try the sanity of even the most level-headed among us. So imagine what it’s like for the senior in your life who has to travel locally with you. Not only can they feel your stress, they have their own issues to manage.
We’ve worked with families enough to know that no one wants tempers to flare or plans to be disrupted, especially over something that could have been avoided by implementing some simple strategies. Because we understand how easy it is to get derailed by even the little things, we’ve put together these tips and reminders to help make traveling locally with your senior as smooth and painless as possible. Let’s get started.
One week or more before the trip – Yes, prep starts this early. It begins by being judicious about setting appointments or scheduling errands. Based on the needs of the senior in your care, book appointments and activities in segments that are reasonable. Don’t try to cram multiple appointments in on the same day if you don’t have to. And avoid running from one side of town to another if you can group your errands geographically. If you don’t plan this part wisely, the whole local travel experience can quickly become a tiresome exercise in frustration that rarely ends well.
48 to 12 hours before the trip – This is probably going to be mostly a period of observation. Pay attention to how the senior in your care is feeling emotionally and physically. If they have been having specific challenges close to the scheduled local travel, you’ll want to judge whether or not the plans you’ve made still make sense. Address any issues as soon as possible. Even if all is well, during this period you’ll want to remind your senior about the plans you’ve made together. It’s good to jog the memory as often as needed, and doing so can give the senior in your care something to look forward to.
Four to three hours before the trip – Depending on the needs of the senior in your care, you will need to allow plenty of time for getting ready. Choosing clothing, then bathing, dressing, eating, and discussing plans again, can be time consuming. Decrease stress by allowing enough time to get everything done at a comfortable pace. 
Two hours before the trip – This is a good time for the senior in your care to relax a little while you do things like ready yourself and gather necessary items for the excursion. Veteran caregivers keep a physical or mental list of must-have items for the drive. These can include medical equipment, medication, snacks, books, checkbooks, credit cards, phones, extra clothing and sanitary items. Make sure you have enough of everything. You don’t want to run out of necessities like oxygen or blood sugar testing strips before you return home.
One hour before the trip – Remind the senior in your care that you are getting ready to leave. Take care of any last minute toileting or hygiene. Don’t expect to be able to rush out the door and jump into the car. Give yourself plenty of time to address any mobility issues. This is also a good time to reassess your senior’s mood. Some seniors become anxious as it gets closer to leaving the home where they know they have everything they need. Remind them you’ve planned and packed, and review with them what you have on hand. If your senior reminds you of something you’ve overlooked, be grateful they told you before you walked out the door!
In the car – Help the 
senior in your care into the vehicle. Make them comfortable and assist with the seatbelt, double checking to ensure it is fastened correctly. Play soothing music or enjoy a light conversation. Drive safely. And don’t be surprised if you need to stop prior to reaching your destination. If you’ve planned ahead, you know this is a possibility, and you’ll have plenty of time to take care of those emergency bathroom breaks.
Upon arrival – Arrange everything so that when you help the senior in your care out of the vehicle, you don’t have to leave them standing unassisted while you rush around and gather the items you’ve packed. If this means they have to sit in the car for a few moments while you prepare, that’s fine. Better to have everything organized so you’ll have free hands to help out your fellow traveler.
When you look at this list, you might say, wow. That’s an awful lot of preparation just to run a few errands or make it to an appointment. If that’s what you’re thinking, you’re right. Traveling with seniors requires more work and strategy than many younger people are accustomed to. The good news is, the more you do it, the easier it gets, and the more enjoyable your time spent together becomes. It’s these little local adventures that can mean a lot to the senior in your life. And that makes the effort well worth it.
This post is sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care serving Prince William and Fauquier counties.
From the Prince William police press release:
Human Trafficking – In October of 2017, officers began to investigate reports of sex trafficking at the Quality Inn located at 1109 Horner Rd in Woodbridge (22191). The investigation revealed that the accused arranged for a prostitute, a 19-year-old woman, to meet with two males at the above location. Following the investigation, officers obtained multiple arrests warrant for the accused, identified as Maurice Lamont COTTON. Attempts to locate the accused have been unsuccessful. The investigation continues.
Wanted:
Maurice Lamont COTTON, 36, of the 12800 block of Island House Lp in Woodbridge
Described as a black male, 6’02”, 210lbs, with brown eyes and black hair
Wanted for human trafficking, commercial sex trafficking, and receiving money for procuring a person
Emergency Department physician Dr. Anoop Kumar has dedicated his life to helping people who are sick, scared and hurt.
“I received my MD in 2007 and completed my training in Emergency Medicine in 2011. I like the clinical diversity of Emergency Medicine. I see young, old, female, male, many critically ill, some not so ill, medical, psychiatric, surgical, and social conditions. If one can bear to look, it’s [the Emergency Department] a window into the soul of society,” says Dr. Kumar.
While his goal is to help and heal the men, women, and children who enter through the doors of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, Dr. Kumar has always been concerned with more than physical ailments, saying, “The mind-body connection is real. There’s a lot of research pointing to that.”
That connection plays an integral part in his life, and it’s something he’s especially mindful of as he’s treating some of the region’s sickest patients. While being the answer to a patients’ prayers is a tremendous gift, it also carries with it an enormous amount of responsibility. That’s why Dr. Kumar has organized something for his co-workers at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. Every month, he leads a meditation session for the doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital.
Meditation is something he has had in his life since he was a child. “I grew up with meditation,” explains Dr. Kumar. “To start off meditating as a kid isn’t really meditating, it’s just noticing things around you. Noticing your thoughts, noticing your feelings.”
As a child, Anoop Kumar was surrounded by the teachings of Eastern philosophy. He says he came to recognize a common message woven through philosophy, science and spirituality- a message of well-being. It’s that message that helped inspire him to write his first book, “Michelangelo’s Medicine.”
“When I became a physician and completed my training in Emergency Medicine, I saw that all those years of thinking about health, healing and what it means to be human could lend an important context to healthcare,” he explains. “One of the main points I make in the book is the human being is not only a human body. For example, when we learn anatomy, we learn about organs. But organs alone don’t make a human being. We have to include other elements, like emotion, thought, intuition, desire and consciousness.”
Dr. Kumar isn’t a stranger to sharing his knowledge when it comes to the art of meditation. It was just about two years ago when he began corresponding with Deepak Chopra, known worldwide as a pioneer in mind-body medicine. “The statements he made about the mind several decades ago were often ridiculed, but today some of those same principles are taught in top institutions around the world. Interestingly, the period over which his career developed is the same period over which I was privately thinking about the same things.”
Since that time, Dr. Kumar has spoken at three of Chopra’s events. He says it’s been an invaluable experience, and while he’s gleaned a number of lessons from these events, one of the most important is simple: “I’ve learned to keep putting my ideas out there. There are no perfect ideas. If the ideas are good, they become refined and therefore more useful in the heat of the spotlight.”
Dr. Kumar’s latest idea is coming in the shape of a book on anxiety and how poorly managed anxiety and stress contributes to disease. In an effort to keep his healthcare colleagues from heading down that path, Dr. Kumar says he’ll continue offering his month meditation, which he hopes offers not only relief but empowerment to members of the team.
“There’s always a lot more to know, there’s always a lot more to experience,” he says. “And sometimes as we branch out and experience more things, the things that we already know get seen in a new context and new light and changes how we experience our lives.”
If you’re looking for a change or an employer who supports you, head over to sentaracareers.com. We’re looking for qualified candidates to join the team.
Come out to see the stars! Lake Ridge Chorale presents "Night," an evening of celestial choral selections featuring a large screen presentation of stunning astrophotography.
Friday, March 16th, 8:00 PM at Old Bridge United Methodist Church, 3966 Old Bridge Rd., Woodbridge, VA.
Your tax deductible donations support these local charities: ACTS, HUGS, Kara Foundation. For more information, visit our website at LakeRidgeChorale.org or call 703-878-1889.
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RICHMOND – The abduction and slaying of a 19-year-old Norfolk woman prompted General Assembly approval of legislation to create an Amber Alert-like system for “critically missing” adults.
The “Ashanti Alert” called for in HB 260, sponsored by Del. Jerrauld Jones, D-Norfolk, was approved by the Senate on Thursday and now awaits the signature of Gov. Ralph Northam to become law.
Ashanti Billie was abducted in 2017 from Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, where she worked at a sandwich shop, and later found dead in Charlotte, North Carolina. Because Billie was an adult, she didn’t meet the criteria for an Amber Alert.
“Once Ashanti went missing, we became more aware of other situations where something like this had happened but there was no mechanism in place,” said Jones, who represents the 89th House District, where Billie lived. “This is a public safety issue, not a partisan issue.”
Eric Brian Brown, described by authorities as a retired Navy veteran who worked at the base with Billie, has been charged with kidnapping in Virginia and in connection with her death in the Charlotte area.
Members of Billie’s family connected with Jones through their friend Kimberly Wimbish, who had worked with the delegate on his election campaign last year. They asked him to draft a bill to help those who currently don’t qualify for missing persons alerts.
Wimbish, who initially used Facebook to publicize the young woman’s disappearance, said the case raised awareness about missing adults, especially in the Norfolk area where people had connections to Billie.
“Everyone said she would give them her last. That she was always helpful and friendly,” said Wimbish, who serves as the family’s spokesperson. “We have to know and believe her kindness was taken for granted.”
Jones said the bill gives Virginia State Police the power to set criteria for the “critically missing adult alert.”
Currently, Virginia has three alerts for missing persons:
- Amber Alerts and Endangered Missing Child Media Alerts, for missing persons under age 18.
- Senior Alerts, sometimes called Silver Alerts, for persons 60 or older.
That leaves a gap for adults between 18 and 60 years old.
If approved by the governor, the Ashanti Alerts will be modeled on the Amber Alerts. An Amber Alert includes issuing emergency messages over public broadcasting networks, displaying electronic messages on highway signs and sending texts to all cellphones within range of the cellular carrier towers in the affected area.
Amber Alerts are also spread voluntarily by other state agencies, the news media and nonprofit organizations. For example, a program called A Child Is Missing can make 1,000 telephone calls with a recorded alert within a minute, according to Virginia’s Amber Alert Plan.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that Amber Alert systems nationwide have helped in the recovery of more than 540 children.
Last year, the General Assembly declared April 29 as “Missing Persons Day” to recognize the 600 Virginians missing at that time, and their families. Advocates are getting ready for the second annual Virginia Missing Persons Day.
Jesse Jensen of Dumfries didn’t think he’d end up a veteran and business owner, not with the way he started out in life.
Growing up in Michigan in a home rampant with domestic violence, Jensen saw his father, who had a drinking problem, arrested several times.
When Jensen was twelve, his parents divorced. He was left to live with his father. So Jensen started drinking with his father. Then his father was arrested again, repeatedly.
