Update, Tuesday, October 22, 2024 —

On October 21, 2024, at 2:29 p.m., the Manassas City Police Department received a 911 call stating that a person had been shot in a residence located in the 9200 block of Brinkley Lane in Manassas. Police responded and found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel also responded to the residence and pronounced him dead on the scene. Read more.

Original post — From Manassas police:

 

*Incident Alert* at 10.21.2024 at 2:38pm

Police are on scene at the 9200 block of Brinkley Lane for an investigation which is contained to a residence. There is a high police presence in the area. It is safe for the public to continue regularly activities. pic.twitter.com/F9C46vRkvb

— Manassas City Police (@ManassasCityPD) October 21, 2024

Press Release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia:

The founder of a Manassas business has agreed to pay $1,000,000 to settle allegations that he falsified payroll amounts to obtain inflated loans on behalf of True Information Assurance, LLC, through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

The PPP offered loans to eligible small businesses for economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP borrowers were required to provide their income and supporting documents to qualify for the loan amount.

Steven T. Covey obtained two PPP loans for True Information Assurance, of which he was owner and President, by submitting loan applications with false payroll figures to SBA-authorized lenders. Based on these fraudulent applications, True Information Assurance received two inflated loans. After Covey sold True Information Assurance in 2021, he retained all proceeds from both PPP loans.

The settlement began with a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, United States ex rel. Salman v. Bull Run Capital Investments, Inc., et al. The whistleblower will receive a share of this settlement.

The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina Kim and Auditor Peter Melaragni for the Eastern District of Virginia.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information from the civil lawsuit can be accessed on PACER by searching for No. 1:21-cv-852.

The civil claims settled are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.

On Saturday, October 18, 2024, a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Annaburg Manor marked the completion of crucial stabilization work on the historic property. The event attracted history enthusiasts, local officials, and community members eager to see the progress made on the beloved 19th-century home.

In addition to the ribbon cutting, attendees were treated to the manor’s first-ever art show featuring local artists.

Manassas acquired Annaburg Manor in 2019 to preserve its historical significance while transforming the grounds into a public park. Originally constructed in 1892 by Robert Portner, a Prussian-born entrepreneur and brewer, the home served as a summer retreat and gathering space for the community. The property later became a nursing facility before being purchased by the city.

The restoration effort, which has thus far cost $4.4 million, including the purchase price, focused on essential repairs and upgrades. Highlights of the renovations include a new slate roof, fresh paint, refinished wood floors, new doors and windows, ADA-compliant accessibility features, and enhanced landscaping. The work also included the installation of new lighting fixtures, offering a glimpse of the manor’s original charm and grandeur. Additionally, archeologists uncovered the foundation of the Portner Tower, a structure that predates the home.

Annaburg Park, located at 9201 Maple St., is now an important community asset, providing residents with another green space in the heart of Manassas. The restoration has renewed interest in the property and will serve as a cultural and recreational hub for years.

Happy Friday, Manassas! Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Oct. 21 work session. This week’s meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St. City Council will also be meeting on Tuesday to discuss applicants for the city manager position. Make sure to check out Potomac Local's recent forum on the state of Manassas City Public Schools, which was held Thursday night with a School Board member and several candidates.

Sign up for our FREE news email and never hesitate to email me at [email protected] with comments, questions and/or news tips.

Important links

This article is for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade and Become a Locals Only Member today! Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!

Nearly 1,800 customers were affected by a power outage that struck just before 10 a.m. on Friday, October 18, 2024, impacting residents and businesses across several areas, including Farmington Court, Hasting Drive, and Nantucket Court.

Crews are currently working to repair two underground connections that caused the outage. As of the latest update, power has been restored to the majority of affected customers, but 37 homes and businesses remain without electricity. Officials expect power to be fully restored within one to two hours as crews continue to make repairs.

We just wrapped up an important discussion on the state of Manassas City Public Schools in our latest podcast episode, featuring insights from local education leaders and school board candidates. This special forum covered pressing issues facing our schools and presented diverse perspectives on how we can collectively move forward.

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

Update Oct. 18 at 9:20 a.m.: An earlier version of this article stated the total budget for the project is $9,000. The city has actually spent $4.4 million — including the price of purchase — to date on the project. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday to celebrate the years-long work at Annaburg Park, a historical home at 9201 Maple St. acquired by the city in 2019. The home was built in 1892 by Prussian-born entrepreneur and brewer, Robert Portner, as a summer retreat and a recreational space for neighbors. The home then became a nursing facility, but in 2019, was purchased by the City of Manassas to preserve the historic resource and create another park. Since the acquisition, the city has completed major renovations on the home, some of which will be celebrated at the Saturday ribbon-cutting ceremony. A few of the renovations include a new slate roof, new paint, repairs to the wooden floors, new doors and windows, installed an ADA-compliant ramp, new lighting fixtures and updated landscaping. Archeologists also uncovered the foundation of the Portner Tower, a structure that predates the home. According to the city, much of this work was necessary to maintain the home's structure. "As with any unoccupied historic home, there was a lot of moisture damage, peeling paint and plaster, and damaged floors in the house. The priority was to stabilize the structure by replacing the home’s original slate roof, metal cornices and wood box gutters, and exterior paint removal that helped fix moisture problems," Lisa Sievel-Otten, acting communications director for the city, said. The city has plans to continue restorations on the home including installing a fountain at the top of the driveway, five historic markers, new restrooms and finishing the trim work on the first floor. Sievel-Otten said there isn't a timeline for the rest of the project. "There is no timeline for the rest of the project — including the master plan for the grounds — as it will be evaluated in the next budget. The fountain should be the next thing installed, and then the restrooms," she said. To date, the city has spent $4.4 million on the home, including the price of purchase. Annaburg was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2022, a National Park Service designation that places national significance on the home and protects the structure.  Due to this designation, the city maintains the structure and its history.

"Robert Portner was also a great benefactor of the city and is famous in his own right. Residents supported several community conversations and responded to surveys during the master planning process and have expressed much support for saving the home and for creating a surrounding park," Sievel-Otten said. "Preserving the 3.5 acres of green space around the house also satisfies a desire residents always express in our surveys for more parks and recreation spaces."

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place Saturday at Annaburg Park (9201 Maple St.) at 1:30 p.m. Attendees can also enjoy an art show following the ceremony.

The construction of Manassas’ first Wawa is nearing completion, supporting the city’s long-term efforts to revitalize a key highway corridor. The new Wawa will provide 24/7 service, benefiting employees at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center.

Ribbon-cutting details will be announced soon, according to the Manassas Economic Development Department.

The gas station sits at the corner of Sudley and Digges roads, near the hospital.

Dear Readers,

We are excited to present to you the second installment of our History and Heritage Feature Series, sponsored by Sentara. This special series celebrates the rich cultural heritage and history of Prince William County, Stafford County, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg.

We will delve into the historical events, landmarks, and personal stories that have shaped our communities. From in-depth articles on significant historical milestones to spotlights on notable landmarks and engaging oral histories from long-time residents, our series aims to connect you with the past in a meaningful and enlightening way.

We are proud to partner with Sentara, a name synonymous with community involvement and support. Sentara’s sponsorship helps make this series possible, allowing us to bring these important stories to you while highlighting their commitment to preserving our local history.

Join us as we explore the places, events, and people that tell the story of our region’s past. Understanding our history is crucial to building a better future and maintaining the rich traditions that define us.

Thank you for your continued support of local journalism.

Uriah Kiser
Founder & Publisher
Potomac Local News

Annaburg Manor Unveils First Phase of Renovations, Opens to Public

This Saturday, the City of Manassas will celebrate the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Annaburg Manor, a historic estate built in 1892 by the Portner family. Once a nursing home and hospital, the manor was purchased by the city in 2019 with the vision of transforming it into a public park. After years of renovations, the first phase of the project is complete, opening the grounds to the public.

Mary Helen Dellinger, Curator at the Manassas Museum, spoke about the challenges the city faced while restoring the manor. “The single biggest challenge for us was that there were no architectural plans showing what the building looked like before. We don’t know what the inside of it looked like during Portner’s time; we only have pictures of the outside,” Dellinger explained. Changes made by previous owners complicated efforts to determine which parts of the house were original and which were later additions. To aid the process, the city worked with Portner’s descendants and used old photographs.

The restoration of Annaburg Manor was more of a renovation than a true historical restoration, according to Dellinger. “The home was in rough shape. There was mold, debris, and old systems that needed to be replaced,” she said. While they chose not to fully restore the home to its original 1892 condition, the team aimed to stay as faithful as possible to its historic design.

One notable feature of the renovation is the addition of a fountain to the manor’s grounds. While the original fountain was custom-cast and could not be replicated, a new fountain was installed that pays homage to the original water feature. “It’s not the exact sculpture that was there, but I think it’ll make the house look nice and is a nod to the original fountain,” Dellinger noted.

Beyond the structural renovations, the project aims to enhance the community’s green spaces. “One of the things we heard from the community was that there was nowhere in that area of town that was walkable,” Dellinger shared. Annaburg Manor is expected to provide much-needed green space where locals can relax and enjoy nature.

Looking ahead, there are plans for further development. While the public will initially only be able to tour the grounds, Dellinger hinted at future events and rental opportunities. “You’ll be able to rent the space for any kind of event,” she said, adding that the manor’s spacious porch would make it a picturesque wedding venue, with meetings and other gatherings possible inside the house.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, October 19, at 9201 Maple Street, Manassas.