Carol “Sally” Keller, an 86-year-old memory care resident of The Wellington at Lake Manassas, was granted a years-long wish to go sailing with her family again.

David Keller, Sally’s son, said he grew up going sailing with his mother because it was a long-standing family tradition; Sally’s uncle had a 46-foot sailboat and her husband had a 17-foot sailboat that they often sailed on the Potomac River, the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River.

Sally moved into The Wellington around five years and during the COVID-19 pandemic, she “visited” her family via video call, frequently when they were sailing.

“Mom would see the boat in the background and always said, ‘I want to go on your boat,'” David recalled. “[It was] probably not the world’s safest idea.”

David said he and his sister had reservations about taking her out on another boat as she grew older and her dementia progressed. But, that’s when Marie Garner, the Inspiritás — or memory care program — coordinator at The Wellington, approached the family with the facility’s “WOW Moment” initiative.

The initiative aims to provide “residents with a personalized experience that reminisces on times past, checks something off a bucket list or honors them in some way,” a press release states. These occur once a quarter for the memory care residents.

Even with this proposition, David and his sister were hesitant.

“We had to wait to find a big enough boat that was safe enough, had walls and … [we] thought we could get her on and off of,” David said. “My mother [can still walk], sort of, but she’s stubborn enough to not want to ride in a wheelchair or use a walker. There were some challenges, but I think she actually had a good time.”

Sally is minimally verbal, but according to David, she spoke some words during their trip across the Potomac. She was able to see some ducks following the boat and verbalized “ducks” in recognition of the group.

David said it was evident through her facial expressions that she recognized she was on a boat and wasn’t afraid.

“She wasn’t afraid of anything, which was another concern of mine,” he said. “I didn’t know how she was going to react [to the movement], but she was totally fine with all of that.”

The family even took her to the outside section of the boat on the way back so she could feel the breeze on the water.

“Other than being afraid of losing her hat, she seemed to enjoy that,” David said.

David said despite his initial reservations, he would encourage others to not be afraid to try an experience like this for their loved ones.

“If the activities director calls you up with a crazy idea, just go for it.”

Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger is kicking off the third year of her mid-day summer meet-ups on Friday at noon, this time at the newly renovated Manassas Museum.

The meet-ups kick off Friday and will run through Aug. 30. They will be held on the patio of the Museum from noon to 1 p.m., but may me moved inside depending on the weather.

At these informal lunch events, the mayor talks with residents, answers questions and brings city officials as guest speakers. Guests will be kept a surprise and will present for 30 minutes and will engage with residents for 30 minutes after, Davis-Younger said in another article.

The city encouraged residents to bring a packed or to-go restaurant lunch to the event.

“I am looking forward to this event returning; it really is a great time of networking and info gathering,” Davis-Younger said in the city’s July 2024 newsletter.

In honor of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) 80th anniversary, they gave $80,000 in scholarships, thousands of which went to those served by the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC).

VMDAEC, an association of electric cooperatives based in Glen Allen, announced the six local high school seniors who received $1,000 scholarships apiece:

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Darius Lamont Chisley, 49, of Warrenton, was arrested and charged Thursday after a stabbing at the Rosemary Ridge Apartments in Manassas.

Chisley is accused of stabbing a 45-year-old man after a verbal altercation, a Prince William County Police Department release stated. He has been charged with aggravated malicious wounding and his court date is pending.

More from Prince William Police:

On July 4 at 9:17 p.m., officers responded to the Rosemary Ridge Apartments located in the 10900 block of Morning Glory Court in Manassas (20109) to investigate an assault. The investigation revealed the victim, a 45-year-old man, and an acquaintance, identified as the accused, were involved in a verbal altercation that escalated. During the encounter, the accused retrieved a knife and stabbed the victim multiple times before leaving the residence. While canvassing the area, officers located the accused nearby and detained him without incident. The victim was treated at an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Following the investigation, the accused, identified as Darius Lamont CHISLEY, was arrested.

Arrested on July 4:

• Darius Lamont CHISLEY, 49, of 9010 Stonecrest Drive in Warrenton. Charged with aggravated malicious wounding Court Date: Pending | Bond: Unavailable

Happy Friday, Manassas!

As the Regional Editor for Manassas, I’ll be starting a series where I preview each Manassas City Council meeting so you know what’s going on, what to listen for, and how to talk about it later.

Important links

• Meeting agenda
• Meeting agenda packet
• Where to watch

Key agenda items

Outdoor licensing agreement for Voodoo Brothers Cajun Creole

City Council will consider the use of a portion of the public sidewalk in the historic downtown for outdoor dining for Voodo Brothers on 9112 Center St.

Proposed settlement of opioid-related claims against Kroger and related corporate entities

City Council will consider participating in the sharing of proceeds from a national settlement involving Kroger’s pharmacy. The city’s share of the settlements is unknown at this point, but the estimated total is $1.2 billion to be paid by Kroger over a period of 11 years.

The city has participated in similar settlements; in 2021, City Council approved participation in a nationwide settlement against the three largest distributors of pharmaceutical opioids and a manufacturer. In 2023, City Council approved participation in a settlement against two pharmaceutical manufacturers and three pharmacies.

Ordinance to allow the city manager/designee to reduce speed limits in construction zones

City Council will consider allowing the city manager to reduce speed limits in construction zones without an engineering and traffic investigation, as stated in the current city code.

“It is to be expected that the city manager or designated ‘expert’ employee would have the knowledge to accurately assess the need and safety benefit of an immediate and temporary speed reduction, without the need for a formal engineering and traffic investigation,” the agenda statement reads.

Proposed by the Manassas Public Works Department, these reductions wouldn’t last more than 60 days. The department’s justification for this explicit language change is to reduce the overall construction timeline for projects.

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Linda Cheeks of Prince Wiliam County has been named the Foster Parent of the Year by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, which oversees 10 local jurisdictions of foster parents.

Cheeks has been a foster parent since 2010 and can’t even count the amount of children she’s had under her care since then; typically, she takes in one to two children at a time and prefers to care for teenagers. She said, in a news release from Prince William County, that she sees her foster children as family.

“I just want to leave little nuggets in each person, just try to make a difference, not in the whole world, but just the few people you come into contact with,” Cheeks said. “It makes you feel good when you can be a part of somebody’s life and know that you had an influence on them to do better.”

A cosmetologist who sometimes works with seniors in assisted living facilities, Cheeks said she tries preparing the children as much as she can for the world once they age out of foster care at 18-years-old.

“I hope they’ll be productive adults when they get out there on their own, that they will empower themselves so they can be self-sufficient and be giving and loving and kind in the world,” she said.

Congratulations, Linda!

On Monday, 19-year-old Latrelle Troddy of Woodbridge was arrested following an investigation into a destruction of property incident on June 27, according to a Prince William County Police Department report sent on Tuesday afternoon. His court date is pending and he secured $2,000 for bond.

More from Prince William Police:

On July 1 at 6:43PM, officers responded to investigate a destruction of property that was reported to have occurred at the Riverside Station Apartments located in the 14000 block of Big Crest Ln. in Woodbridge (22191) on the afternoon of June 27. The investigation revealed a man, later identified as the accused,
was handling a firearm when a round was fired into an adjacent apartment. The residents of the adjacent apartment located the damage later and contacted the police. No injuries or additional property damage were located. Following the investigation, the accused, identified as Latrelle TRODDY, was arrested.

Arrested on July 1:

• Latrelle TRODDY, 19, of 14070 Big Crest Ln. in Woodbridge
  Charged with shooting into a residential dwelling

Two men and three juveniles were arrested Monday following an investigation into a June 29 incident at a Woodbridge home according to a Prince William County Police Department incident report sent Tuesday afternoon. Iverson Galindo Valle, Roger Donaldo Aguilar-Diaz, two 17-year-old males, and one 16-year-old male were identified and subsequently arrested. Galindo Valle and Aguilar-Diaz are being held without bond and the 16-year-old is being held at the juvenile detention center. All court dates are pending

More from the Prince William County Police:

On June 29 at 12:41 a.m., officers responded to a residence located in the 14600 block of Ponderosa Court in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate a robbery. The investigation revealed the victims, a 19-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man, and a 17-year-old male juvenile, were inside the house with a group of five acquaintances when three members of the group brandished firearms before physically assaulting the juvenile male victim. When the female victim attempted to intervene, she was also physically assaulted. At one point during the encounter, one of the suspects brandished a firearm and took the adult male victim’s phone and keys while another suspect attempted to take the juvenile victim’s shoes. Upon hearing the altercation, a family member intervened, and the suspects left the home. Minor injuries were reported. While investigating the incident, detectives identified the suspects involved and determined the incident stemmed from an ongoing dispute. During the investigation, detectives obtained search warrants for multiple locations where evidence supporting the robbery and assault were located.

Arrested on July 1: 

• Iverson GALINDO VALLE, 19, of 3539 Melrose Ave. in Triangle; charged with 2 counts of robbery, 3 counts of brandishing, 3 counts of malicious wounding by mob, and 1 count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
• Roger Donaldo AGUILAR-DIAZ, 20, of 18302 Woodland Drive in Triangle; charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.
• A 17-year-old male juvenile of Dumfries; charged with 2 counts of robbery, 3 counts of brandishing, 3 counts of malicious wounding by mob, 1 count of possession of a firearm by a minor, and 1 count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
• A 17-year-old male juvenile of Manassas
• A 16-year-old male juvenile of Dumfries; charged with possession of a firearm by a minor.

A new roundabout was opened to the public on June 27 on Grant Avenue in Manassas as part of ongoing construction and streetscape improvements by the city.

In addition to the roundabout, according to a report released by the city, new medians were constructed from the intersection of Grant Avenue to Taney Road and retaining walls were built between Prince William and Liberty streets, but are not complete.

The city also published an information video on Facebook for residents on how to use a roundabout as a motorist, cyclist or pedestrian.

There is still upcoming work along Grant Avenue to be completed, including street improvements along the northbound lanes between Taney Road and Prince William Street. The city is installing storm sewer pipes, drainage structures, curbs, and sidewalks along the northbound lanes as well. Along Prince William Street, new medians are being constructed.

These improvements are part of a $12 million plan approved in 2017 to improve streetscapes from Grant Avenue to Lee Avenue and Wellington Road. It’s also a part of planned enhancements envisioned in the 2008 Old Town Sector Plan, the city’s website states. The final concept also includes lane reductions between Prince William Street and Wellington Road to create a multi-modal boulevard.

This project has caused strife with property owners along Grant Avenue who will be affected by this road diet; the city had to resolve issues with seven properties as of July 2022 and the other 66 agreed to amend their property lines.