- Visit with Santa
- Roast marshmallows over a fire pit
- Dunbar Saxophone Quartet at Town Hall
- Holiday carols with the Woodbridge Community Choir
- Children’s activities
- S’more fixings and caramel apples at The Pretentious Gourmet
- Roasted chestnuts at Gift & Gather
- Hot chocolate at Tastefully Yours
- Art Open House at The Artists’ Undertaking Gallery
Ridge region. WinterFest begins on December 8, with Santa’s Lake Ridge Parade on Harbor Drive in Lake Ridge at 11:00 a.m., followed by a holiday arts market at Tackett’s Mill until 2 p.m., Occoquan’s holiday activities from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the Workhouse Arts Center’s Second Saturday Art Walk from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The day’s events will conclude with a spectacular firework display approximately 8:00 p.m., courtesy of Prince William Marina, with viewing areas in the Town of Occoquan, Occoquan Regional Park, and Hoffmaster’s Marina.
O.W.L. V.F.D members visited more than 55 homes this weekend in the River Ridge community to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and change batteries. Residents were ready, with new batteries in hand and open doors to welcome the fire fighters.
Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department reminds residents that one easy step can help save their lives and the lives of those around them. Twice a year change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, test the alarms and remind friends, family, neighbors and fellow community members to do the same.
Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year, but, everyone can work together to help reduce the number of home fire fatalities. Approximately every three hours a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation and 66 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms: worn or missing batteries.
“The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” says OWL VFD Chief Jim McAllister. “Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely.”
Changing smoke alarm batteries twice a year, testing those alarms and reminding others to do the same are some of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce deaths and injuries. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends that smoke alarms in homes should be replaced every ten years and having both ionization and photo electric smoke alarms are best to alert people to all types of home fires.
Hylton pounds out steady beat in win over Battlefield
A sigh of relief undoubtedly filled the air in Hylton’s locker room after Friday’s 16-13 win against Battlefield in a Virginia high school football matchup at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge.
The Bulldogs’s train of momentum chugged along the final-quarter tracks with a 7-0 point differential.
The Bobcats moved ahead of the Bulldogs 13-9 to start the fourth quarter.
Battlefield got the better of the action throughout the first half, owning a 7-3 margin over Hylton at halftime.
The Bulldogs opened with a 3-0 advantage over the Bobcats through the first quarter.
Patriot tenderizes Osbourn
A full-on assault for a Virginia high school football victory on October 19, as Patriot disposed of Osbourn by a 41-20 score.
The Pioneers moved in front of the Eagles 14-6 to begin the second quarter.
Patriot’s offense pulled ahead to a 31-14 lead over Osbourn at the intermission.
The Pioneers struck over the Eagles when the fourth quarter began 41-14.
Culpeper County escapes Brentsville District
A tight-knit tilt turned in Culpeper County’s direction just enough to squeeze past Brentsville District 28-21 in a Virginia high school football matchup.
Culpeper County fought to a 14-7 intermission margin at Brentsville District’s expense.
The two squads were set up for a frantic finish when the final quarter began with a 28-21 tie.
Both teams were scoreless in the first and third quarters.
Freedom pulls python act on Potomac Senior
Freedom controlled the action to earn a strong 48-26 win against Potomac Senior High School on October 19 in Virginia high school football action at Freedom High School in Woodbridge.
Overtime is just fine for Gar-Field in win over Forest Park
Extra football seemed a fitting climax to an exciting game as Gar-Field upended Forest Park 24-21 on October 19 in Virginia high school football at Forest Park High.
Tough tussle: Charles J. Colgan steps past Woodbridge
The margin for error was so small it only piqued the anxiety.
But Charles J.Colgan didn’t mind, dispatching Woodbridge 27-21 in Virginia high school football on October 19 at Woodbridge High.
Stonewall Jackson mauls Osbourn Park in a strong showing
There was no magic, just a manhandling as Stonewall Jackson mashed Osbourn Park 47-6 in a Virginia high school football matchup at Stonewall Jackson High.
The Raiders drew first blood by forging a 34-6 margin over the Yellowjackets after the first quarter.
The gap remained the same through the third quarter as neither team could dent the scoreboard.
Both teams were scoreless in the second quarter.
Flexing muscle: Manassas Park rolls over Warren County
Manassas Park trekked through Warren County’s defense like General Patton’s tanks poured across North Africa 49-28 in a Virginia high school football matchup at Warren County High.
Massaponax takes victory lap over Stafford
Massaponax played the role of Thor, dropping its hammer on Stafford during a 31-6 beating in Virginia high school football action on October 19 at Massaponax High.
The start wasn’t the problem for the Indians, who began with a 6-0 edge over the Panthers through the end of the first quarter.
Massaponax’s offense jumped to a 21-6 lead over Stafford at halftime.
The Panthers’ determination showed as they carried a 24-6 lead into the fourth quarter.
North Stafford pushes the mute button on Brooke Point
North Stafford’s defense throttled Brooke Point, resulting in a shutout win 49-0 in a Virginia high school football matchup.
The Wolverines darted in front of the Black Hawks 14-0 to begin the second quarter.
North Stafford registered a 42-0 advantage at intermission over Brooke Point.
Both teams were scoreless in the third quarter.
Norfolk rains down on St John Paul The Great Catholic
St John Paul The Great Catholic got no credit and no consideration from Norfolk, which slammed the door 33-20 in a Virginia high school football matchup.
Norfolk registered a 13-7 advantage at halftime over St John Paul The Great Catholic.
The Bulldogs darted to a 27-20 bulge over the Wolves as the fourth quarter began.
The Bulldogs put a bow on this victory with a strong final-quarter kick, outpointing the Wolves 6-0 in the last stanza.
Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter.
South County pounds out steady beat in win over Robinson
It wasn’t pretty, gut-tough wins usually aren’t, but South County wasn’t going for style points.
A victory will do, and it was earned 17-14 over Robinson during this Virginia high school football game.
The Stallions took control in the third quarter with a 17-14 advantage over the Rams.
Neither side could break ahead as the two teams began in a tense 7-7 duel in the first quarter.
Both teams were scoreless in the second and fourth quarters.
Editor’s note: Potomac Local relies on data from the Scorestream app to produce our weekly football wrap up. Download the app today contribute to our reporting.Â
WOODBRIDGE — Ten brand new buses are parked in Woodbridge waiting for their new colors.
The new commuter coaches built by Motor Coach Industries today are a bright white, but soon they will don the new colors of a rebranded OmniRide.
Gone will be the teal color scheme of the old buses. Instead, these new coaches will display the transit agency’s new logo with royal blue and bright green colors.
OmniRide Board of Commissioners Chairman Ruth Anderson said the shiny new buses will have less room for display ads as to not cover up the new design.
A total of 37 new buses at a cost of $22 million have been ordered to replace older coaches in the fleet. They’ll all be wrapped in the new design, said OmniRide Executive Director Bob Schneider.
It’s the agency’s first major bus replacement order in the past five years. Riders won’t notice much of a difference between the new and old buses. And like their predecessors, they run on diesel but will emit fewer emissions.
The transit agency earlier this year decided to stop marketing itself as the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, or PRTC, opting instead to adopt the branding for its commuter bus service itself OmniRide across the organization.
Other services like OmniLink local bus service in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park, and OmniMatch ride-sharing service are now all known as OmniRide.
In the coming months, OmniRide plans to roll out a new real-time bus tracking service that will allow riders to see the location of their next bus on their smartphones. OmniRide is currently testing the technology already in use by other local transit agencies in Fairfax County.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY – (Press Release) Free training on the management of universal wastes and hazardous waste disposal will be held on Monday, October29 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Fairfax County I-66 Transfer Station/Recycling Center. Northern Virginia facility managers, property managers and apartment managers that deal with disposal of fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, thermostats, or electronics should attend this training sponsored by AERC.
A complimentary lunch and snacks are included. Space is limited. Register online at www.knowtoxics.com.
Attendees will learn about:
- Universal and hazardous waste generator requirements (presented by VA DEQ)
- Commonly generated hazardous and electronic waste
- Options to help you stay in compliance
A tour of the I-66 Transfer Station/Recycling Center will also be provided.
The Prince William County Solid Waste Division encourages Prince William businesses, schools, churches and other property and facility managers to attend. This training is open to all Northern Virginia area businesses that want to gain a better understanding of hazardous waste and used electronics disposal.
For additional information, please contact Debbie Spiliotopoulos, Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), Â [email protected], or John Birkholz, AERC, [email protected]
To register for the training, visit www.knowtoxics.com and click on the More tab.Â
Kathy Baxter’s cancer diagnosis has been a journey.
Like many journeys, there have been twists, turns, peaks and valleys along the way.
Kathy and her husband of 43 years, Bruce, were longtime Northern Virginia residents who had moved to Puerto Rico.
It was there, she first detected the symptoms which lead to her breast cancer diagnosis.
“I noticed some retraction and I felt a lump right underneath my nipple” said Kathy. “I called my doctor and we scheduled an ultrasound. It came out fine. The doctor said it was because I have fibrocystic breasts.”
That was in December 2016. The decision was made to follow up with another scan in six months.
Kathy soon found things had drastically changed during that period. In July 2017, she received results from her Puerto Rican lab the test was “probably malignant” and she was referred to a surgeon.Â
Kathy says over the next few months a combination of events lead to obstacles in her care — everything from a language barrier in her doctor’s office to Hurricane Maria and then Hurricane Irma, which devastated the island causing major power outages and nearly brought air travel to a halt.
The decision was made; Kathy would come to the states. After a turn of lucky events that Kathy credits as a “miracle,” she finally arrived in Northern Virginia in October 2017.
“When I got here in October, I was shell-shocked,” explains Kathy. “My sister lives in Stafford and she gave me the name of her oncologist.”
Kathy’s multi-disciplinary team of Sentara doctors helped her through the difficult transition. Dr. Hamed Khosravi, Medical Oncologist, Dr. Robert Cohen, Breast Surgical Oncologist and Dr. Susan Boylan, Radiation Oncologist worked together to develop a plan of attack after her diagnosis of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma which had gone to the lymph nodes. In addition to that diagnosis, her doctors discovered Kathy also had Triple Positive breast cancer.
Dr. Susan Boylan, a Radiation Oncologist for Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center and Medical Director of Potomac Radiation, explains, “This type of breast cancer tends to grow and spread faster than others. It is particularly aggressive and requires additional treatment.”
With that knowledge in hand, the team created a treatment plan. It was decided Kathy would do six cycles of chemotherapy, take several weeks off, get a lumpectomy and then proceed to radiation.
“Each tumor is unique. Each woman’s tumor has its own biology,” explains Dr. Boylan. “We try to personalize an individual’s treatment based on the biology of their tumor. Everybody’s treatment is going to be unique to them. It’s very personalized medicine. It’s not cookie cutter.”
Baxter, a former nurse, admits it was a lot to take in.
“I like to be able to process things. On top of that, I don’t like pain and I don’t like needles,” she said.
While her family has been by her side through it all, Kathy credits Oncology Nurse Navigator Deana Henry with helping her work through the process.
“Deana is such a delightful person. She would make her rounds through the infusion center and really seemed to care about me and my health,” she said. “She’s very friendly, she’s a very positive person and she was very sympathetic. She’s been a tremendous support.”
After chemotherapy, Kathy had her lumpectomy. She spent the summer recovering and is now working through radiation. As she nears the end of her treatment, she’s looking to the future and returning to Puerto Rico.
She offers this advice:
“Take each moment as it comes. Live for the moment!” she says smiling. For any woman who finds a lump, her advice is more serious: “If anyone shared they had any sort of lump, I would insist on a biopsy, because I can’t help but think had they biopsied my lump in Puerto Rico in December, they would have found my cancer. That would have changed everything, that would have put me a year ahead of it. But I’ve just been so pleased with my care here at Sentara. They were responsive when I called and just so professional, it made a hard time a little easier.”
To learn more about the Sentara Cancer Network and find the care team for you or your loved one, call 1-800-SENTARA or visit Sentara.com.
Manassas – (Press Release) Olivia Hajioff and Marc Ramirez, the Marcolivia Duo, join Music Director James Villani as the featured viola and violin soloists for Symphonic Journey, the Manassas Symphony’s season-opening concert at 7:30 pm on October 27, 2018 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. They are playing Max Bruch’s Double Concerto in E minor, Op. 88.
Marcolivia — featured many times on NPR’s “Performance Today” and “Front Row Washington” — is an award-winning violin and violin/viola duo who performs music from all styles and periods from Baroque artists to works by 20th-century composers, including folk music, virtuoso works, and their own arrangements.
The MSO concert program also includes Gioachino Rossini’s famous William Tell Overture, as well as the not often performed, but very beautiful Orchestral Suite No. 1 in D minor by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.Â
Season subscriptions and individual concert tickets are available from the Hylton Center Box Office or by calling 888-945-2468. All children and student tickets (through college) are free.
Founded in 1992, the Manassas Symphony is the winner of the 2015 American Prize for Orchestral Performance, Community Division and is a Resident Arts Partner of the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas. The all-volunteer orchestra plays five concerts a year and is involved with many educational and civic events throughout the community. For more information on the Manassas Symphony, visit its website at ManassasSymphony.org.
MANASSAS, Va. – (Press Release) Write by the Rails (WbtR), the Prince William Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club, is pleased to announce a half-day writing workshop to be held Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Trinity Episcopal in Historic Manassas from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The “Back on the Tracks: Fall Writers’ Workshop and Social Campaign Kickoff” will feature a panel on marketing books and writing, along with breakout sessions on writing novels, memoir and poetry. The event will include networking, book sales, a book exchange and live-writing exercises.
The date also marks the live launch of the #WbtR #BackOnTrackNow social media campaign. Attendees will have the chance to write and submit Twitter-friendly lines to be published through social media and in an anthology.
WbtR Workshop Panel and Facilitators
Answering pre-selected questions as well as questions from attendees, the marketing panel will include Rebecca Barnes, Publisher of Prince William Living and Brides & Weddings magazines; Uriah Kiser, Publisher of Potomac Local News; Stacy Shaw, Publisher of Bristow Beat; and King Buari, CEO of Buarich Digital Marketing.
“This year, I am especially excited to have a session on marketing your writing with a panel of experts in the field. I really feel like each person on the panel brings expertise to our attendees. Marketing is one of our most requested topics for the club,” said WbtR president Jan Rayl.
Breakout sessions will be facilitated by novelists P.M. Hernandez and Natalina Reis, memoir writer Nancy Kyme and poet Katherine Gotthardt.
“I am always excited to see my personal writing improve after attending our Write by the Rails Writers’ Workshops,” said Rayl. “I never considered myself a poet. Yet at each workshop I have written a poem. I have had great inspiration in writing poetry from attending Write by the Rails events. I wrote my first poem at a poetry workshop led by Katherine Gotthardt.
“I read Nancy Kyme’s book Memory Lake and loved it. I have toyed with writing a memoir about working at the Boy Scout camp and am looking for inspiration in her session.
“And I have read, We Will Always Have the Closet,” by Natalina Reis while I was in Paris on vacation. It was a great summer romance to read.”
Vice President Katherine Gotthardt said, “I think people will love hearing how Natalina and P.M. Hernandez operate. P.M. Hernandez is one of the most prolific local authors I know. I’m in awe of her.”
Cost for the workshop is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Published and aspiring writers are welcome to attend. To register, visit the WbtR website’s events page.
