On Saturday, June 29, 2024, the Town of Occoquan assigned the honorary designation of “Ogle Harris Way” to the 100 block of Poplar Alley in Occoquan. The Town expressed its appreciation for the contributions to the Occoquan community of Ogle Harris, his family, and his descendants through a dedication program and ceremony, attended by dozens of community members, plus local and state representatives.

Led by Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta, the ceremony included remarks by Representative Abigail Spanberger, read by a staff member, in addition to a tribute by Tamika Joy Harris-Russell, a descendant of Ogle Harris. Members of the Harris family were also invited to share stories and memories.

“Ogle Harris and his extended family were a cornerstone of Occoquan’s commercial and social community, and at the heart of the town’s African-American community, for the first 75 years or more of the 20th century,” said Mayor Porta. “It was an honor and pleasure to be able to recognize them for their contributions to our history,” he continued.

In the early years of the 20th century, Harris began a business out of his home at 204 Washington Street, which by the end of the century’s second decade had become one of Occoquan’s main grocery stores, selling meat, fresh produce, fishing tackle, sodas, candy, and sundry other goods. His store became an Occoquan institution and a cornerstone of the town’s commercial and African-American communities. It remained so after his passing in 1949 under the auspices of his son Arthur and his daughter-in-law Doris, until it formally closed in 1974.

“Mr. Harris was known throughout the community for his honesty, generosity, and his upstanding character,” wrote Representative Abigail Spanberger (D), in her Congressional remarks read at the event. “The store served as a center for Occoquan’s commercial and African American communities.”

5:30 p.m. – The park has reopened. The latest from Mayor Earnie Porta:

River Mill Park has re-opened after a temporary closure that began after 8:00 p.m. last evening due to a water main break underneath the Fairfax Water access road to the dam. The main break caused water to pour from underneath the pavement down the slopes behind and adjacent to the LOVE sign and through the park. Fairfax Water personnel were able to turn off the water not long after 9:00 p.m. last evening, and today worked to clear the resulting sediment and gravel from the park’s foot path. It will be next week before all the sediment and gravel can be cleared from some of the grassy areas in the park, but the park is now re-opened for public use and no long term damage is anticipated.

11:30 a.m. – A water main break closed River Mill Park in Occoquan.

This video on Thursday, June 27, 2024, shows water spilling over the retaining wall into the Occoquan River. “

“The break occurred on Fairfax Water’s side of the system and did not require action from Service Authority staff. It did not impact our infrastructure or water service,” states a Prince William Water (formerly Service Authority) spokeswoman.

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The park sits at the end of Mill Street, the town’s main drag, and is a popular gathering spot for summer concerts and events.

Water spilled over the retaining wall at @VisitOccoquan‘s River Mill Park. We’re working to find out what happened. So far, @pwwaterofficial has not provided an update. Hat tip to the reader who sent us this video! pic.twitter.com/qg4jTp827F

— Potomac Local News (@PotomacLocal) June 28, 2024

Hat tip to the reader who sent us this video!

Thank you to everyone who participated in and helped out at the 16th annual Occoquan Duck Splash.

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(Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta) There is still time to register for Occoquan’s 2nd Annual “Whatever Floats Your Boat Parade,” which will take place this Saturday, June 1, as part of the RiverFest and Craft Show.

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Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) announced a funding allocation of nearly $1 million for Occoquan today.

Mayor Earnie Porta expressed gratitude, stating, “Thanks to the efforts of the Congresswoman and her staff, the town now is the recipient of almost a million dollars in funding that is going to enable us to be able to do the remediation and improvements on our stormwater system that, again, we simply could not have done ourselves.”

The nearly one million dollars allocated will be utilized to address various critical needs related to stormwater management. Porta outlined the intended use of the funds, stating that they will enable the town to undertake “the remediation and improvements on our stormwater system” that are essential for the community’s well-being and safety.

The funding will specifically support initiatives aimed at enhancing the town’s stormwater infrastructure. This may include measures such as repairing or upgrading existing drainage systems, implementing flood mitigation strategies, dredging sediment buildup in stormwater arteries, and strengthening infrastructure resilience to floods.

Additionally, the funds may be allocated toward implementing new technologies or practices to improve stormwater management efficiency and effectiveness. This could involve the installation of advanced monitoring systems, green infrastructure projects, or other innovative solutions to mitigate the impact of stormwater runoff on Occoquan’s environment and infrastructure, officials said.

Spanberger emphasized the collaborative nature of the project, noting, “What’s really exciting about this community project funding is that it is based on our work together, our office, the federal representative working with the local community.” She praised Occoquan’s proactive approach, saying, “The town of Occoquan made such a compelling and straightforward appeal and application that our team, in working directly with the town, were able to put forth a strong package to be able to get this direct funding.”

The event held outside the town hall concluded with the ceremonial presentation of a symbolic check representing the awarded funding.

Meanwhile, Spanberger will host a telephone town hall on Thursday, May 16, from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Spanberger, currently serving her second term in Congress, announced earlier this year that she would not seek reelection to Congress. Instead, she has set her sights on the Virginia Governor’s mansion, with plans to run in the upcoming 2025 gubernatorial race to replace Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Town of Occoquan Mayor E-Newsletter: Join us on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., for the dedication of the Town of Occoquan's LOVEworks sign in River Mill Park (415 Mill Street, Occoquan), designed by artist Darby Leondra. This event is free and open to the public.

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On April 1, tickets go on sale online for the 16th Annual Occoquan Duck Splash Race. This year’s race will take place during the town’s spring Riverfest and Craft Show event.

Read more in the Occoquan Mayor’s E-Newsletter:

Join us on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. to watch a thousand numbered rubber ducks drop from the Route 123 bridge on the Occoquan River and “race” to a pre-determined, but malleable, finish line.

“Adopt” a numbered rubber duck for $5 and if your duck finishes 1st you will receive a $500 cash prize. If your duck finishes 2nd through 5th you will receive a $100 cash prize, and if your duck finishes 6th through 10th you will receive a $20 cash prize.

You do not need to be present to win and all net proceeds benefit the 501(c)(3) organization Patriots for Disabled Divers, which uses scuba as therapeutic tool for wounded warriors.

For more information and to adopt a duck online go to occoquantourism.com. In prior years we have sold out, so don’t wait too long.

Ballywhack Shack Café marked its grand opening with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony this past Saturday, March 9. The café began on the town’s main drag, Mill Street, Ballywhack Shack, and has found its new a second home at 126 Commerce Street, neighboring the Golden Plum (previously known as Mom’s Apple Pie).

In a candid moment during the event, Sherry Mangas, owner of Ballywhack Shack, reminisced about the journey that led to this exciting milestone. Mangas shared her story, tracing back to her tenure at the Blue Arbor Café in 2007, where she discovered her passion for the culinary arts. Following the closure of Blue Arbor, fate intervened as she stumbled upon a humble shed on Mill Street, which she transformed into a thriving sandwich shop and hot dog stand.

“The success of our little shack on Mill Street was overwhelming,” Mangas reflected. “After five years of bustling business, the community’s demand for indoor seating became apparent, especially on rainy days like today,” said Mangas.

Mangas, whose experience managing the Blue Arbor Café under Steve Power’s guidance shaped her entrepreneurial spirit, seized the opportunity presented by the relocation. She explained how the new location on Commerce Street, previously part of Mom’s Apple Pie, felt like a natural progression.

“Just like the shack, this location presented itself to me,” Mangas explained. “When the opportunity arose, it felt like the perfect fit. Matt Dawson, the building owner, understood my vision, having been a deli owner himself.”

Customers familiar with the offerings at the original Mill Street location will find comfort in the familiarity of Ballywhack Shack Café’s menu, which includes popular sandwiches like the Bada Bing Bada Boom and Twisted Sister, alongside new creations like the Horseradish Roast Beef.

Mangas expressed her gratitude for the warm reception from the Occoquan community and emphasized the joy of building connections with her customers.

“When you’re in the business for yourself, your customers become your world,” Mangas shared. “Occoquan stole my heart with its supportive community and vibrant atmosphere.”

The sandwich shop sits at 126 Commerce Street. The original at 304 Mill Street remains open.