Join

Kristen Senechal. [Photo courtesy of NOVEC]
On Wednesday, the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative's (NOVEC) Board of Directors named Kristen Senechal as the organization's next president and CEO.

"After an eight-month national search, the Board selected [Senechal] because of her extensive knowledge and more than 15 years of experience in the electric utility industry," Board Chairman Wade House said. "The Board also is impressed with her leadership style of prioritizing people first."

Senechal is the executive vice president of transmission and chief operating officer at Lower Colorado River Authority (LRCA) in Austin, Texas. She joined LRCA in 2017 following nine years at CenterPoint Energy in Houston.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

0 Comments
Photo: Historic Manassas, Inc.

Join the fun at the Manassas Winter Market on Saturday, January 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Prince William Street Commuter Lot in Historic Downtown Manassas. Shop for baked goods, fresh produce, warm beverages, and other seasonal delights while supporting local vendors. The market runs every Saturday through March 22, making it the perfect spot to stock up your pantry and enjoy cozy winter vibes.

Do you have an upcoming event to share? Submitting it to our community events calendar is easy and free! Just fill out our event submission form at this link. Include all the essential details, and we’ll help spread the word about your event to our readers.

0 Comments

From left to right: NOVEC’s Jake Till, Caleb Barton, Ben Williams, Hunter Partlowe, Connor Jost and Jeremy Jenkins helped lineworkers at Southside Electric Cooperative restore electricity for residents. [Photo courtesy of NOVEC]
Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) recently sent six of its lineworkers to assist the Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) in Crewe, Va., in restoring power to the area following recent snowfall.

NOVEC sent its crew of six men, pictured above, on Jan. 7 to work for three days with SEC, which serves more than 59,000 people. The recent winter storm, according to a NOVEC press release, left 28,000 in the area without power.

"It was good to know we were helping people," Jake Till, one of NOVEC's lineworkers, said. "It’s a small, close-knit community. The lineworkers at Southside appreciated our support."

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

0 Comments
[Jonathan Reynaga via Pexels]
At the Jan. 13 meeting, the Manassas City Council unanimously voted to increase the city's towing fees.

The “light duty” basic police accident tow and clean up — which includes the towing and removal of a car involved in a crash and cleaning the crash site of minor debris — fee would increase from $290 to $375. The non-accident fee — requiring a vehicle to be towed not in the case of an accident — would increase from $210 to $250.

The “heavy duty” towing fees have the largest increase if approved; the basic police accident tow and clean up will increase from $475 to $1,000. The non-accident tow fee will increase from $160 to $800.

According to city documents, the policy was last revised in May 2019 and instated in January 2020. These new fees will be instated later this month.

This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.

0 Comments
Manassas Public Schools HQ at 8700 Centreville Road

Insidenova – “The Manassas City School Board is requesting the appropriation of state funds for a pilot alternative education program.

The board discussed the possibility of such a program in December. Manassas City Public Schools currently has an agreement with Prince William County Public Schools to use its program at Independence Nontraditional School.

The Independence program has limited spots – roughly 20 – for Manassas students, and any additional Manassas students who need alternative education are moved to online classes.”

0 Comments

One area of the city indicated they think Manassas is an excellent place to live (dark blue), while the rest said it was overall a good place to live (light blue). [Courtesy of the City of Manassas]
According to survey results recently released by the city at the Jan. 13 City Council meeting, 79% of Manassas City residents think it's an excellent or good place to live.

The survey, conducted by ETC Institute, a national market research firm for local governments, was conducted in 2024 as part of the city's efforts to poll its residents every two years on a wide variety of issues, city services, public safety and quality of life. The last citywide survey was conducted in 2022 by ETC, which has been working with the city since 2014.

Jason Morado, the director of community research at ETC, said the survey was sent out to random residents via mail and online mostly in September and October 2024. He also said 407 people responded, surpassing the city's goal of 400 respondents.

This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.

0 Comments

On Monday, January 13, 2025, the Manassas City Council received the Electoral Board's annual report, presented by Pamela Kincheloe, who is secretary of the city's electoral board. The report highlighted voter participation trends, the logistics of the 2024 election, and the city's electoral outcomes.

Voter Participation and Trends

This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.

0 Comments

The Manassas City Council voted unanimously on Monday, January 13, 2024, to purchase a 1.56-acre property in Downtown Manassas from the Manassas Ice and Fuel Company (MIFCO). The $3.1 million acquisition is part of the city's ongoing strategy to control downtown development and foster community-focused growth.

The newly purchased property, which includes multiple parcels on Center Street, is zoned for industrial use (I-2), allowing developments up to 75 feet in height. City officials highlighted the importance of acquiring the land to guide its future use and prevent projects that may not align with the downtown's character.

“This purchase ensures that we, as a city, can decide what happens on this key piece of land,” said Vice Mayor Wolfe. “Without this step, the property could have been developed by-right into something like a storage facility or data center, which may not align with our downtown vision.”

This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.

0 Comments
From left to right: Eric Brent, Ed.D., MCPS Culturally Responsive and Equitable Practices Lead; Craig Gfeller, Deputy Superintendent; Kevin Newman, Ed.D., Superintendent; Tracy Hammond, Special Education Teacher at Haydon Elementary School; Laura Goldzung, Ed.D., Principal at Haydon Elementary School; and Natalie Short, Assistant Principal at Haydon Elementary School.
Correction: An earlier version of this article did not include Laura Goldzung's educational distinction, an Ed.D. We have updated the article and photo caption to reflect her degree. Tracy Hammond, a special education teacher in Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS), was recently given the Mary V. Bicouvaris Teacher of the Year award from the district. Hammond is currently a teacher at Haydon Elementary School. She's been with MCPS since 2007, but has been teaching special education since the early 1990s. "My goal as an educator is to not only teach academic content but also to inspire a love of learning, resilience, and self-advocacy in my students," Hammond said in an MCPS release. "Special education is more than just a profession to me; it’s a calling." Throughout her career, Hammond has worked with students in the special education program at all levels but currently focuses on students in kindergarten through fourth grade. She's also served as a grade-level team leader, a mentor for new teachers and a representative for the Manassas Education Association.

"My passion for special education is rooted in the belief that all students – regardless of their backgrounds or challenges – can succeed when given the right support and resources," Hammond said. "I am dedicated to providing that support, advocating for my students and creating an environment where each child can thrive."

Haydon Elementary Principal Laura Goldzung, Ed.D., said Hammond was a passionate advocate for students.

"I have rarely encountered a professional so unwavering in her commitment to equity for all students," Goldzung said. "Through her words and actions, she thoughtfully challenges assumptions and established practices to ensure that decisions are student-centered, data-informed and lead to high-quality instruction."

The Mary V. Bicouvaris Award is a statewide program where local districts can nominate a teacher each year to be considered for a statewide honor. The award was renamed for the 1989 winner of the Virginia and National Teacher of the Year award, Mary V. Bicouvaris. She was the Commonwealth's first recipient of the national honor. Bicouvais was a government and international relations teacher in Hampton City Public Schools. The Commonwealth's award was renamed for her in 2006 following her death in 2001. Recipients of this award are chosen based on their ability to inspire students, play an active role in the community, professional development and leadership in student learning.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

0 Comments
Ă—

Subscribe to our mailing list