The Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at Osbourn High School is a shining example of how Manassas City Public Schools are preparing students for both college and careers by offering practical, hands-on learning experiences. The program covers a variety of fields, including health sciences, information technology, automotive technology, welding, and cosmetology, helping students gain the technical skills they need to thrive in today’s job market.
During a Potomac Local News forum held on October 17, 2024, Maidy Whitesell, a school board candidate and longtime community volunteer, highlighted the need for expanding the program to meet student demand. "There’s a lot of interest in fields like plumbing and electrical work. These are valuable skills, not just for immediate employment but for life in general. We should continue to expand the program to give our students more opportunities to succeed," Whitesell said during a recent town hall forum on Manassas City schools.
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Happy Friday, Manassas!
Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Oct. 28 regular meeting. This week’s meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St.
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Robinson made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning production of "Hairspray" as Seaweed. Since then, he's been in various Broadway productions, including "Disney’s The Little Mermaid," "Hair," "Ragtime," "The Lion King," "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," "The Book of Mormon" and "Les Misérables."
During his three days with the choir, Robinson taught a three-hour masterclass, discussed his journey to Broadway, provided students with industry insights and took questions from students. A ninth-grade student, Maliya Trammell, performed "Rise Up," and Robinson provided acting tips through song.
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The Bull Run Rotary Club will host its 8th Annual Flags for Heroes event from November 8 to November 16, 2024, at the Manassas Museum lawn at 9101 Prince William Street, Manassas. This event will feature hundreds of American flags displayed in honor of Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, frontline workers, and Local First Responders who have sacrificed significantly to protect and serve their communities and country.
The opening ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, November 8, 2024, marking the beginning of this week-long tribute. All proceeds raised through hero sponsorships will benefit the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run, a facility dedicated to supporting wounded veterans by providing them a peaceful place to heal and reconnect with their families.
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The City of Manassas has maintained high credit ratings with the two major global credit rating agencies, Moody's and S&P Global, according to a Monday press release.
These credit ratings ensure the city can borrow money at lower interest rates and signal the city is in a stable financial condition. The lowest rating an entity can receive is a C or D, depending on the agency issuing the rating. These ratings, according to Investopedia, help investors determine the riskiness associated with investing in bonds issued by a company, government or a government agency.
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Following concerns over underage drinking and unregulated alcohol consumption, the Manassas City Council has implemented a new policy to limit the number of events held downtown. The decision, discussed at the October 21 council meeting, aims to reduce the strain on city resources and improve public safety, particularly for the popular First Friday gatherings in Downtown Manassas.
The policy will reserve one weekend each month as a “respite weekend,” when no significant events will be held in downtown, allowing city infrastructure and staff a much-needed break. Furthermore, city officials are considering reducing the frequency of First Fridays and other recurring events to manage safety risks and improve the experience for residents and local businesses.
Concerns surrounding First Fridays, a popular monthly event featuring a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) where patrons can carry alcohol in marked zones, have escalated in recent months. Text messages exchanged on September 6, 2024, between Interim City Manager Doug Keen and Police Captain Tara Petty revealed growing worries about underage drinking and attendees bringing alcohol purchased outside the event’s permitted areas, including from nearby liquor and convenience stores. The DORA guidelines specify that alcohol should only be purchased from local restaurants participating in the event.
Still, city officials report that many patrons bypass these regulations, undermining public safety and harming local businesses.
“We’re thrilled that Old Town is such a popular destination,” Keen said, “but the high volume of events, particularly First Fridays, has created ongoing safety challenges that we need to address for the well-being of residents, businesses, and visitors.”
As part of the new policy, the city will also evaluate event permits to restrict how often individual organizations can host events in downtown. Some community members have voiced concerns that the abundance of large gatherings, while beneficial for tourism, has led to congestion, parking shortages, and noise, impacting the area’s day-to-day quality of life.
Local businesses have had mixed responses to the policy. Many welcome the changes, citing disruptions during First Fridays and other events that draw large crowds. Business owners note that while events are valuable for drawing new patrons, the influx of people—often with alcohol brought in from outside—can deter regular customers.
“Manassas has become a hub of activity, which is wonderful,” said Councilmember Ralph Smith. “But our priority has to be ensuring these events don’t overburden the community or compromise public safety. This policy lets us strike a balance between tourism and community needs.”
In response, event organizers and local businesses are working with city officials to adjust to the new policy and promote safer, more sustainable event practices. Some First Friday organizers are exploring measures like increased signage about DORA guidelines and added police presence to address potential safety risks.
The city plans to review the new policy after one year, gathering feedback from residents, businesses, and event organizers to ensure it meets the community’s needs.
"The cultural value of the cottage within the community cannot be underestimated," Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger said.
The cottage used to be the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth (MIS) and was chartered in 1893 by Jennie Dean, a former slave and resident of Prince William County. The structure was originally built on Wellington Road by the existing Jennie Dean Elementary School building but was moved to Jefferson Street in the 1960s.
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The ARTfactory's building, which many believe is haunted, will be transformed into different levels of scariness for visitors to enjoy. Ahyrel Tinker, director of education at the ARTfactory, created the haunted house.
"There’s nothing like this downtown and our community of spooky season lovers need something Manassas strong to haunt them this season," Tinker said. "We listened to the feedback from last year’s sold-out Haunted Hallows event, and decided to ramp up the scare factor."
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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.
A suspect at the scene was identified as the shooter and subsequently detained by police. Investigators determined that the incident was between domestic partners who both lived at the residence. The suspect was placed in custody and transported to the Prince William County Adult Detention Center. She was charged with the following criminal offenses and held without bond.
