National Take Back Day is led by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which established this day to address the drug overdose epidemic in the U.S. Thousands of people die each year in prescription opioid deaths; in 2022, the number of deaths was 14,716 according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
“DEA is committed to making our communities safer and healthier, and we can do this by reducing overdoses and overdose deaths,” the DEA’s website states. “While the community does its part to turn in unneeded medications and remove them from potential harm, we are doing our part to further reduce drug-related violence.”
The DEA hosts a take-back day every six months in April and October with thousands of law enforcement agencies participating each time. In April 2024, 335 tons — or 670,135 pounds — of drugs were collected nationwide. In Virginia, 17,425 pounds of prescription drugs were collected in April. Since the first take-back day in 2010, nearly 19 million pounds of drugs have been collected.
In Prince William County and Manassas, the following locations will be open on Oct. 26 and participating in the take-back initiative.
- UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center, 8700 Sudley Road, Manassas
- UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center, 15225 Heathcote Blvd., Haymarket
- Sentara Healthcare Lake Ridge, 12825 Minnieville Road, Lake Ridge
The DEA also provides a search engine for other participating locations across the country and state. Several items will be accepted at these sites, including:
- Prescription and over-the-counter solid-dosage medications
- Vape pens and e-cigarettes AFTER batteries have been removed
- Intravenous solutions
- Injectables
- Needles
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Compressed cylinders (asthma inhalers and the like)
The county said in a release that a permanent marker may be used to blacken out personal information in an effort to protect your privacy.
Illicit drugs like marijuana or methamphetamine will not be accepted.
For more information, please call the Crime Prevention Unit at 703-792-7270.
The City of Manassas is now offering new services to Spanish speakers in an effort to better reach residents.
The new services include an anonymous Spanish-only WhatsApp channel to stay updated on the city, Spanish email notifications and emergency alerts, Spanish messaging for events and YouTube videos that can be viewed in Spanish.
For many years, the Manassas City Council has discussed ways to reach the Spanish-speaking community in the city, the second-most spoken language in Manassas. In 2022, Council discussed providing translation services at public meetings to allow Spanish speakers to voice their thoughts and opinions.
Currently, the city provides an interpreter for Spanish-speaking residents who wish to address Council, X — formerly known as Twitter — messages are published in English and Spanish, translations of meetings are provided on Instagram and Facebook and residents can access a short audio summary of the approved minutes in Spanish after the meeting.
The press release in Spanish:
Con el fin de comunicarse mejor con los residentes de habla hispana, la Ciudad de Manassas ofrece medios de comunicaciĂłn nuevos, produce los comunicados bilingĂĽes, brinda servicios de interpretaciĂłn durante sus reuniones y se interactĂşa con los residentes durante eventos comunitarios.
Durante las sesiones del concejo municipal, una intérprete está presente para ayudar a los residentes quienes hablen español que deseen dirigirse a los concejales y concejalas en persona. Los mensajes X en vivo informan en español lo que sucede en las sesiones del concejo en tiempo real. Los mensajes que se publican en Facebook e Instagram durante las sesiones también incluyen las traducciones producidas por un ser humano. Después de la sesión, los residentes pueden acceder a un audioresumen en español de cinco minutos de las actas aprobadas de la reunión.
Los miembros del personal que hablan español asisten a reuniones y eventos tales como la Serie E3 para Padres [Parent E3 Series] de la PolicĂa de la Ciudad de Manassas [Manassas City Police] y las reuniones comunitarias con el enfoque en los parques, el urbanismo y los proyectos de transporte.
Para mantenerse informados, los residentes de Manassas que hablan español pueden:
- unirse anónimamente a un Canal de WhatsApp en español para obtener información sobre recursos, eventos y noticias de la Ciudad
- registrarse para recibir notificaciones en español por correo electrónico
- registrarse para recibir alertas en casos de emergencia
- recibir mensajes en español sobre los eventos para familias (enviando la palabra clave “Mensajes” al 888-777 para registrarse)
- ver vĂdeos en español en YouTube
El sitio web de la Ciudad de Manassas ofrece la información más completa sobre los servicios municipales y está disponible en 86 idiomas.
Simply submit your event through our quick and easy form to get it in front of thousands of local readers. Events posted on our calendar can also be featured in our weekly newsletters, reaching an even broader audience across Prince William County, Stafford, Manassas, and Fredericksburg.
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The server farm will be one of four in Manassas and will have three buildings. Post says that the construction has caused significant issues for his business. “The blasting has caused our sprinkler standpipe to shift in the ground, and a truck damaged our portico. It has cost me $2,900 in repairs,” he said. “There have been instances where the blasting has disrupted funeral [ceremonies]. During a funeral, a minister was giving a eulogy, and without any warning, they let off a giant explosion. Then, the fire alarm went off right after the blast and sounded throughout the funeral.”
Despite these challenges, Post says that the city has been largely indifferent to the struggles of existing businesses in the area. “It seems like the new city leadership is letting the data centers walk all over us,” he noted. “The old leadership would never have allowed this to happen. They understood the importance of protecting local businesses while managing growth.”
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The manually powered wheelchairs have two mountain bike wheels and a manual lever to allow for greater access to visitors who may need the wheelchair to experience the battlefield. The chairs will be available for free each day the park is open.
“The all-terrain wheelchairs are the first phase of the park’s increased accessibility strategy,” Park Superintendent Kris Butcher said. “Providing equitable access for all visitors is an integral part of our mission. I look forward to continuing to provide more opportunities for all visitors to experience Manassas National Battlefield Park.”
MNBP has employed several other accessible ways for visitors to access the park. Throughout the park, there are several handicapped parking spaces and paved, level pathways in addition to wheelchair-accessible ramps. There is also signage available in large type.
The all-terrain wheelchairs are available from the Henry Hill Visitor Center, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Oct. 14.
The category 4 hurricane hit the southeastern region of the United States in late September and was the deadliest to strike the mainland U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Parts of North Carolina had access cut off due to flash floods and landslides.
These two teams — one made of five men and the other of four — helped local cooperatives restore power to the more than 1.4 million coop households in these impacted areas.
The team of five (pictured above) was first sent on Sept. 27 to southwestern Virginia, then, on Oct. 3, the crew was deployed to Lenoir, N.C. to assist Blue Ridge Energy. The four-man crew began in New Castle, Va., on Oct. 1, before being sent to assist Blue Ridge Energy to join the other crew on Oct. 2.
Blue Ridge Energy, according to a NOVEC press release, had 6,800 miles of its 8,500 miles of lines damaged in Hurricane Helene.
“We do know there are parts of our system that will take weeks to repair or rebuild. In many cases, there is no road — not even dirt — where there once was one and our poles are down mountainsides or in the river in some cases,” Renee Walker, director of public relations at Blue Ridge, said.
The cost of Hurricane Helene’s damage is in the billions, according to several reports and analyses. The death toll is above 200 people as well.
There will be several different special guests, performances, challenges and local agencies present at the expo. Read more below for the event schedule.
Schedule
- Noon to 12:10 p.m.:Â Opening ceremony (Ball Field 2)
- 12:10 to 12:35 p.m.:Â Prince William County Pipes & Drums
- 1 to 1:30 p.m.:Â Woodbridge High School Marching Band
- 1:30 to 2 p.m.:Â Make the Right Call Presentation
- 2 to 2:30 p.m.:Â Manassas Park High School Drum Line
- 2:30 to 3 p.m.:Â Egg Drop Challenge (Demo Alley)
- 3 to 3:30 p.m.:Â Vehicle Extrication
- 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.:Â School of Rock Haymarket House Band (Courtyard)
Exhibitors
FIRE & RESCUE
- PWC Fire & Rescue System
- Fire Marshal’s Office
- HAZMAT
- Life & Fire Safety Programs
- Office of Emergency Management
- Department of Fire & Rescue CPAT/Human Resources Office
- City of Manassas Fire & Rescue Department
- Manassas Park Fire & Rescue Department
LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Prince William County Police Department
- Prince William County Sheriff’s Office
- Manassas Park Police Department
- Town of Haymarket Police Department
- Town of Occoquan Police Department
- Quantico Police Department
- Dumfries Police Department
- Virginia State Police
LOCAL & REGIONAL AGENCIES
- AirCare 1 (PHI Air Medical Manassas)
- Department of Forestry
- Virginia Forestry
- Civil Air Patrol
- Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital
- Prince William District Scouts
- Prince William County Community Foundation
- NOVA Food Rescue
- PWC Animal Services
- Saving Prince William’s Littles
- Area Agency on Aging
- PWC Public Safety Communications 911
- Office of Executive Management
- Human Rights Commission
- Community Services Wellness & Prevention
- Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court Seals on Wheels
- PWC Building Development Building Code Enforcement
- Prince William Public Libraries’ Mobile Library Unit
- Office of Housing and Community Development
- Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry
- Volunteer Prince William
- Public Works/Solid Waste Management
- Office of Procurement Services
- PWC Department of Facilities & Fleet Management
ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
- PWCFRS Honor Guard
- Prince William County Pipes & Drums
- Antique Fire & Rescue Apparatus
- MedStar Health – Bleeding Control VR Experience
- PSCC 911 – Make the Right Call Presentation
- Firefighter/EMS Gear Dress Up Station
- Face Painting
- Egg Drop Challenge
- Rules
- Registration Form (closes Wed., Oct.9th @ 5 p.m.)
SPECIAL GUESTS
- Sparky the Fire Dog
- McGruff the Crime Dog
- Smokey the Bear
MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
- Woodbridge High School Marching Band
- Manassas Park High School Drum Line
- School of Rock Haymarket House Band
FOOD TRUCKS
- Two Smooth Dudes
- Virginia Grill
- Sweet Frog
- Bella’s Cafe
AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
Dill Dinker’s Pickleball, co-founded by Denise Richards and her husband Will, emerged from an unexpected but fortuitous shift in their lives. Like many others during the pandemic, the couple searched for ways to stay active and connected while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
After nearly two decades in outside sales, Denise discovered pickleball and quickly fell in love with the game. This passion ultimately laid the foundation for a thriving business that would soon expand nationwide.
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As Manassas prepares for Election Day on November 5, 2024, Mayor Michelle Davis Younger’s actions during her time in office have shown a concerning pattern: a tendency to make politics personal, holding grudges against those who disagree with her, and even daring to ask challenging questions.
Mayor Davis Younger has consistently demonstrated that she only values positive press and wants to control the narrative about her time in office. Her use of the phrase “Our Manassas” over the past four years implies a sense of unity, but it’s a unity that seems conditional—only extending to those who fully support her vision and leadership. Anyone who questions her motives or approach, whether political opponents or local journalists, finds themselves on the receiving end of her ire.
A striking example of this came during a voter forum organized by the Prince William Chamber of Commerce on October 1, 2024. Davis Younger expressed frustration that it wasn’t a debate where she could directly challenge her opponent, Xiao Yin “Tang” Byrom. But beyond that, she made her distaste for Potomac Local’s presence known, stating, “They invited a journalist that has never said anything nice about me.” This comment is baffling, given that we have written several positive articles about her, covering her community initiatives like “Walks with the Mayor” and “Friday Lunch with the Mayor.”
However, it seems the mayor’s definition of “nice” only applies to outlets that avoid asking critical questions. Despite our efforts to provide balanced coverage, including following up with direct questions and covering her public meetings, Davis Younger has refused to grant us an interview since announcing her candidacy for mayor in 2019.
It was only under pressure, during this election season, that she finally provided an exclusive statement—but only after being confronted by a freelance reporter at an early voting polling station. Her disdain for open dialogue and transparency with the press speaks volumes about how she views the role of media in politics.
Even more troubling, Mayor Davis Younger has played the victim card, lamenting to a majority Black congregation at First Baptist Church of Manassas that she has faced “hate” as the first Black woman to serve as Manassas mayor. While there is no denying the unfortunate reality of discrimination, the mayor’s reluctance to elaborate on these claims or provide specific examples raises questions about whether she is using identity as a shield from legitimate criticism.
This pattern of personalizing politics extends beyond the press. Stories have emerged from citizens like Simone Reddington, host of the “Until They Kick Us Out” podcast, who recounted how Davis Younger refused to speak with her after a “Lunch with the Mayor” event because she knew Reddington supported her opponent. Such behavior is not only unprofessional but undemocratic. A mayor should be willing to engage with all constituents, regardless of their political affiliations.
As voters in Manassas head to the polls, they should ask themselves: Do we want a mayor who makes politics personal and retaliates against those who question her, or do we want a leader who can handle dissent with grace and foster an open, inclusive environment for all? The future of “Our Manassas” depends on that answer.
