Occoquan residents will once again hear the blaring sound of a warning siren used to alert residents in the event of a dam break.
Fairfax Water will sound the siren on Wednesday, November 18, at 10 a.m. According to the water service’s website, the sirens were installed to warn residents of the Town of Occoquan, which lies below the dam, “in the highly unlikely” even of a massive failure.Â
The dam siren was last tested about a year ago.
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Enjoy the upcoming festive season with virtual and socially distanced celebrations in historic Occoquan
The town government and Occoquan Merchants Guild will present Occoquan HolidayFest, a three-week event including in-person and online activities from November 20 through December 13, 2020.
The event kicks off on Friday, November 20, at 8 pm with Mayor Earnie Porta hosting a virtual holiday Tree Lighting broadcast live. Starting that weekend, the Occoquan Merchants Guild will host a Shopping Passport Contest where shoppers can win $100 in gift cards to Occoquan shops and restaurants. This contest runs November 20 through December 13 and details can be found at occoquanguild.org/holidayfest.
The town also invites the public to enter the second annual Gingerbread House Contest. Voting will take place virtually and winners will be announced at Fireside Family Night on Saturday, December 12, at 4 pm, and receive a $25 prize to use at any local Town of Occoquan business.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, shoppers are encouraged to visit Occoquan merchants in person or online for holiday gifts and special deals! Then on Saturday, December 5, from 11 am to 4 pm, Occoquan will host regional artisans and crafters in the Holiday Market in River Mill Park, 458 Mill Street. This socially distanced outdoor market will be a festive opportunity to shop for unique and handmade gifts.
During the closing weekend of the festival, the town will host its popular Friday night trivia series with a holiday twist. It’s a Wonderful Trivia Night will take place Friday, December 11 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in River Mill Park. Participants may rent picnic circles in the grass for $30 for their guarantee of up to six people. Tickets can be found on Eventbrite here. Adult beverages and snacks will be available for purchase in the park that evening.
Then on Saturday, December 12, families can join us for Fireside Family Night in the park! Santa will arrive on a fire engine at 3 pm to wave to children, s’ mores kits and fire pits will be in River Mill Park from 4 pm to 7 pm, then the event will conclude with a staged reading of A Christmas Carol by Castaways Repertory Theatre at 5 pm. This event is free, but registration is required.
In addition to Town and Guild led events, local merchants will be hosting holiday-themed workshops, demonstrations, and tutorials both online and in-person. Other details and a growing schedule of activities can be found at occoquanva.gov/holidayfest.
On-street and lot parking is available for this event. Please note, space is limited at activities to adhere to current coronavirus gathering restrictions. Face coverings are required. The health and well-being of our residents, patrons, businesses, and the local community is paramount. The Town of Occoquan will continue to closely monitor information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local health and government authorities to guide decisions about Town events.
On Saturday and Sunday, October 24, 25, respectively, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. First Home Alliance will hold a financial emergency clinic to help those struggling to say in their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The event will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church, located at 13020 Telegraph Road in Woodbridge. Participants will be able to drive up in their cars and then speak to someone on-site for the intake process, to maintain social distancing,
The area inside the church will be used to serve elderly and disabled residents with technology challenges.
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Occoquan Police Officer Brent Barker has been honored by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving in receiving the 2020 Mothers Against Drunk Driving Virginia Law Enforcement Award.
Barker is one of over 200 law enforcement officials throughout Virginia recognized for their outstanding efforts in enforcement against driving while intoxicated during Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s Virtual Statewide Day of Recognition on Wednesday, September 30.
During 2019, Barker made 25 impaired driving arrests which was the most driving under the influence arrests in Occoquan jurisdiction by any law enforcement department in the past five years.
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Flu season is fast approaching. Sentara hospitals usually see an increase in flu cases around mid-September and early October.
This year, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors say it’s critical to get your flu shot.
As part of Sentara’s commitment to keeping our communities safe, on Saturday, October 17, 2020, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center will host a free drive-thru flu shot event while supplies last. This first-come, first-served event is at Christ Chapel, 13909 Smoketown Road in Woodbridge.
This free event is available for adults, 18 years of age, and older. Patients will receive a flu shot without ever leaving the comfort of their vehicle. The public must wear a mask and all COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at all times.
Health experts warn with nearly 200,000 COVID-19 related deaths in the United States already, another respiratory illness could increase the chances of residents catching both diseases at once. In addition, flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19. Both viruses are more severe for the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions. Getting a flu shot to prevent the flu will allow healthcare professionals to better manage the COVID-19 pandemic, save thousands of lives, and preserve health care resources.
As part of Sentara’s commitment to keeping our communities safe, all Sentara employees, volunteers, and non-employed partners are required to receive a flu shot each year to help protect the communities we serve.
Drugstores and pharmacies are also offering flu shots, generally covered by insurance. Sentara patients can schedule an appointment online and
visit their primary care office for a flu shot. For more information, please visit sentara.com/flushots or to schedule an appointment with a Sentara Medical Group provider, visit sentara.com/getcarenow.
Occoquan will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, September 23, for the developer to discuss updated plans for the Mill at Occoquan.
The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at Occoquan Town Hall, located at 314 Mill Street.
Seating will be very limited due to physical distancing requirements, so the town strongly encourages people to participate through Zoom.
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Support one of Occoquan’s 501(c)(3) organizations, Patriots for Disabled Divers (PFDD), by participating in their inaugural Aquatic Challenge. Register to swim, kayak/canoe, stand-up paddleboard, or scuba anytime and anywhere from September 20 through October 3, 2020. Participate individually or as a team to see who can cover the most distance. Or set your own goal.
Registration is $20 per person and $5 for children 14 and under. All participants will receive a medallion (not necessarily made of metal) with the Aquatic Challenge logo. Those who upload their progress will be entered into a competition to see who can complete the most distance in each category.
Winners will receive additional recognition. You can also order a commemorative t-shirt if you like, a portion of the proceeds from which will go to PFDD. Of course, whether or not you participate in the Aquatic Challenge you can also help support persons with disabilities by making a charitable contribution directly to PFDD.
PFDD was founded in Occoquan in 2013 and since that time has used scuba as a therapeutic tool for more than 600 wounded military veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, amputations, and other injuries. Every $1,000 raised takes one participant from the introduction to open water certification in scuba.
Register for the Aquatic Challenge and learn more about PFDD.
A new kayak ramp opens today in
quan.
The ramp, a project that began in 2013 but faced a series of bureaucratic delays, is meant to provide better, no-cost access to the river, especially to those with disabilities.
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The body of a young man was found the back of a van involved in a crash at Occoquan.
From Virginia State Police:
At 2:25 a.m. Thursday (Aug. 27), Virginia State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash in Prince William County. A tractor-trailer had been stopped on the right shoulder of the southbound lanes of I-95 near Exit 160 for Route 123/Occoquan Lake Ridge. As the tractor-trailer began to pull back into the southbound travel lanes, it was struck from behind by a van. The tractor-trailer left the scene and continued southbound on I-95.
