Ballywhack Shack CafĂ© marked its grand opening with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony this past Saturday, March 9. The cafĂ© 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 CafĂ© 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 CafĂ©’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.
Occoquan announced their popular spring event is back for 2024. Beginning March 26 through 30, there are two ways to participate.
More information can be found in Occoquan’s press release below:
Celebrating over a decade of fun and amazing creativity by local business owners, Occoquan’s famous Peep Show is back! Stroll through the historic district and vote for your favorite PEEPS® dioramas, made by and displayed at Occoquan businesses. Cast your vote and enter to win the grand prize of $100 in Occoquan gift cards! Forms are available at participating business locations and at Town Hall.
The community is invited to participate! Build your very own PEEPS® diorama and enter this year’s Occoquan Community Peep Contest for the chance to win a $50 prize in your category!
Enter in one of these four:
- Individual
- Family/Team
- Youth (ages 12-16)
- Kids (12 and under)
Drop off entries by March 25, 2024, to Town Hall at 314 Mill Street. Town Hall is open weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors will vote on these and the business-made dioramas throughout the Peep Show, March 26-30. Participation is free but entrants into the community contest portion must first register.
For more information about Peep Show activities see visitoccoquanva.com/peeps.
The Occoquan Town Council unanimously approved a new town seal following a comprehensive review process that included over 20 submissions curated through a crowdsourcing initiative supervised by Vice Mayor Jenn Loges.
The seal, designated for official town documents and related materials, was crafted better to encapsulate the town’s historical narrative and essence, incorporating visual elements emblematic of its commercial heritage, contemporary identity as a communal hub, and the significance of the Occoquan River and its surrounding natural landscape, states Mayor Earnie Porta.
Representing the town’s commercial legacy, the seal features the iconic Mill House, once a pivotal component of the prominent mill complex operational from the 1760s until 1924. Additionally, the gazebo in Mamie Davis Park is a recognizable focal point for various community gatherings and ceremonies. The depiction of the footbridge, river, and paddler reinforces the area’s rich natural heritage by symbolizing the town’s intrinsic connection to the Occoquan River.
Overseeing the selection process, Vice Mayor Loges collaborated with a crowdsourcing firm tasked with soliciting designs within predefined parameters, resulting in a diverse pool of submissions exceeding 20.
Distinct from the official seal, the “Authentic Occoquan” logo has served as a marketing emblem since its inception in 2018, primarily utilized for branding and promotional materials related to town events.
Town manager Adam Linn recounted the progression of the seal redesign effort, noting the engagement of crowdSPRING, LLC, in 2023 to develop the new seal for a fee of $1,200.
Providing context to the decision, Town Manager Adam Linn highlighted the evolution of the town’s visual identity, with the previous seal, designed in the 1980s, portraying a Native American figure. While the town’s name originates from a term used by the Algonquian-speaking Doeg natives, Linn emphasized that the depiction did not accurately represent a Native American indigenous to the East Coast or Virginia during that era.
The impetus for the seal redesign stemmed from discussions initiated during the September 5 town council meeting, during which Porta and council members directed staff to explore the possibility of initiating a competition to solicit designs for the new seal.
Preceding this decision, the town conducted a successful public mural design contest, resulting in the selection of Alethea Robinson as the contest winner. Robinson’s mural, completed in October 2023 and situated at the town entrance on Route 123 and Commerce Street, was officially dedicated in November of the same year.
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Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta announced the passing of 19-year-old Occoquan resident Jason Brunsman, who lost his life in a car accident on Route 1. Brunsman, a lifelong resident of Occoquan, was involved in the accident early on the morning of February 14.
According to reports, Brunsman was driving a Ford Transit Van southbound on Route 1, nearing Giles Run Road in Lorton, when the vehicle collided with the rear end of a roll back dumpster truck that was stopped in the left lane, waiting to turn left. Brunsman sustained fatal injuries in the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the roll back dumpster truck emerged from the accident unharmed.
Preliminary investigations by detectives from the Crash Reconstruction Unit indicate that alcohol is not suspected to have played a role in the accident. However, authorities are looking into whether speed may have been a contributing factor.
Visitation for Brunsman is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, at the Mountcastle-Turch Funeral Home in Woodbridge, VA, with a funeral mass to follow on Wednesday, February 21, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Lake Ridge.
Brunsman’s passing marks the sixth traffic crash fatality of the year in Fairfax County, compared to three fatalities at this point in the previous year. The community mourns the loss of a young life and extends condolences to the family and friends of Jason Brunsman during this difficult time.
Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta shed light on the occurrence of off-white, brownish suds and orange slime in the Occoquan River, clarifying that these phenomena are natural processes resulting from the breakdown of organic debris and bacterial action on iron, respectively. The mayor emphasized that these occurrences are not man-made pollution but rather regular natural processes visible throughout the year.
On days like today, we will sometimes receive calls about pollution in the Occoquan River after individuals observe something like what you see in the photo below, which I took earlier today. Although not generally considered attractive, the off-white, brownish suds in the river are not man-made pollution, but reflect what is most often a harmless, natural occurrence, the accumulation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Caused by the breakdown of organic debris from plants and animals in the river, DOC reduces the surface tension of the water making it easier for the associated foam to form. Particularly noticeable after storms when there is a greater flow of water and wind, the foam tends to be more prevalent in the fall when the leaves are falling and in the spring with pollen and the loss of plant buds.
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Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta: “Understanding that in a community like Occoquan we are all neighbors, many of you have inquired about how you might support those impacted by the fire [that displaced eight people] at 116 Washington Street in Occoquan. After considering the best means of offering support and consultation with some of those affected, Occoquan Town Council Member Eliot Perkins has taken the lead in establishing a GoFundMe page to raise money for those affected. All proceeds will be distributed evenly among the 6 housing units impacted by the fire.”
“If you would like to contribute please go to gofund.me/c4cc641a. Thank you in advance for your consideration and generosity.”
The Prince William County Fire Department responded to two separate incidents involving fires in different buildings today.
At 6:19 a.m., fire crews were called to the Chick-fil-A in the 9900 block of Sowder Village Square near Manassas. Units swiftly responded to reports of the building on fire, discovering flames emanating from the rear of the structure upon arrival. The fire caused moderate damage to the establishment, said Prince William County Assistant Fire Chief Matt Smolsky.
Investigations by the Fire Marshal’s Office revealed that the fire was triggered when staff members activated a heater in the trash room, unaware of combustible materials nearby. Currently, the operational status of the restaurant remains unknown, said Smolksy.
At 12:26 a.m., county fire crews rushed to the 100 block of Washington Street in Occoquan following reports of an apartment building engulfed in flames. Arriving at the scene, crews encountered smoke and fire in a six-unit apartment building.
Quick-thinking neighbors played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of all occupants, alerting them to evacuate the building promptly. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. However, the fire caused extensive damage, rendering the structure unsafe for occupancy, as determined by the Building Official.
Eight adults from the six affected units are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. The Fire Marshal’s Office continues its investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
Occoquan artist Vicky Somma has created many works of art throughout the years, but when she made Occoquan’s Mamie Davis Park into a Christmas ornament, she reached Hallmark Christmas Movie fame.
She created the ornament, molded from the park’s gazebo, which was featured in “The Gift of Peace” on the Hallmark Channel.
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The Occoquan Town Seal is getting a makeover.
The seal (pictured above) isn't on the town website or any other public place. Unless you were reading a town council agenda (like we do), you may have never seen it.
![Mamie Davis Park in Occoquan [Photo: Occoquan Town Government]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mamie-davis-park-1260x840.jpg){kind=link}