The arrest of Jose Rafael Lizama, a 47-year-old resident of Manassas Park, has stirred concerns following the death of Justin Burns on December 2, 2023.
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The Leadership Prince William (LWP) Board of Regents has announced the appointment of Charles Gilliam as the organization’s Executive Director. Gilliam, who has been serving as the interim executive director since July 2022, brings over 20 years of experience in the restaurant/hospitality industry to his new role. Most recently, he owned Roux Pot, Inc. and the Old Town Manassas restaurant Okra’s Cajun Creole, which closed in 2021 after 23 years in business.
“The job announcement attracted more than 40 qualified applicants from across the nation,” stated Tiffany Izenour, LPW Board of Regents chair. “We are pleased that Charles has demonstrated the experience and skills needed to effectively lead the organization to the next level.”
“Charles brings a wealth of passion, experience, and knowledge to the role of Executive Director, and I am excited to continue to work with him as we improve our leadership programs and expand our reach throughout Prince William County,” she added. “His experience as a small business owner will be invaluable to us.”
Gilliam holds a Bachelor of Science in business and hospitality management from Berea College in Kentucky. He is also an LPW alumnus and a certified Emergenetics associate. Gilliam and his family reside in Prince William County.
In addition to Gilliam’s appointment, the organization welcomed Kris Johnson to the team. Johnson, who spent 16 years as the Membership & Sales Director with the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, recently moved back to Manassas from Culpeper, where she served as the General Manager of the Country Club of Culpeper.
Regarding Johnson’s expertise, she stated, “While my title was Membership & Sales Director at the Prince William Chamber, I was also responsible for the planning and execution of many of their major events.”
Furthermore, Johnson’s experience as a general manager will contribute significantly to her new position. “Being a manager of a facility of that kind is challenging and totally different than my career with the Chamber,” Johnson explained. “However, my exposure to Emergenetics taught me so much about how to communicate effectively with my staff and colleagues.”
Emergenetics is a psychometric assessment tool and concept that combines neuroscience and behavioral psychology to understand individual differences in thinking and behavior. It is a key component of the LPW’s program.
Johnson’s primary focus will be overseeing LPW’s major fundraiser, the Evening of Excellence – Mardi Gras Casino event, scheduled for Friday, March 22, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. The event will feature casino games, music, food, and an award ceremony where LPW will present the Kathy Ellington Alumni Leadership Award and the LPW Vision Award.
Johnson emphasized the importance of executing valuable, fun events to increase LPW’s visibility and brand awareness in the area.
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The Manassas City School Board voted unanimously Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, to approve the plans for Jennie Dean Elementary School, moving it forward to the city’s Planning Commission for further approval and discussion.
This decision comes after months of discussions, planning, and devising an amenable school plan to fit the city’s needs. Previous reporting from Potomac Local News has shown contention between City Council and the School Board about this project, which has focused on other projects.
The Board met on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in a closed work session to discuss recent updates with Superintendent Kevin Newman, Ed.D.
At the Tuesday meeting, the Board and Newman considered three design options, all with different placements of the building: a baseball field, a playground, a field, and a bus loop. The group ultimately decided on concept E-2.5.
Board member Jill Spall said this had been a very long process and expressed frustrations with the back-and-forth in joint meetings with the City Council.
“At some point, we just need to move forward,” Spall said. “I’m happy and proud of 2.5 that we’re putting forward, and there’s been a lot of work … and thought that’s gone into making this plan. And what’s getting mired is the fact that we have a great design committee … that is working hard and moving forward.”
Board member Sara Brescia then clarified the process moving forward for those listening.
“This is an unusual process to build a school,” Brescia said. “My point in asking is that this doesn’t mean the shovels are going into the ground tomorrow, that there is still a lot of discussion that’s going to be happening here.”
At the time of the meeting, the Planning Commission was slated to meet on March 6, but the meeting has since been canceled. The next time the Commission will meet is April 3. If the plan is approved, then the City Council will be the next to vote.
which is expected to cost at least $87 million and sit in the heart of Jennie Dean Park. According to public documents, the two-story school will hold about 1,000 students and feature an IT workworm, a broadcast booth, and collaborative learning areas.
The school will be built near the existing Jennie Dean school, which was built in the early 1960s. The architects must select a site for the new school and have weighed some options next to the school, known as Dean Park.
In addition to the vote, the School Board heard from multiple district principals and administrators for School Board Appreciation Month. Principals from multiple schools at different levels gave short presentations on arts and music, career-technical classes, and literacy. The Board also celebrated the clerk of the Board, Alba Garza, who was honored and thanked by administrators for Clerk Appreciation Week,
The next scheduled Board meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2024.
Caitlyn Meisner is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.
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"We're looking to expand our EV charging capabilities significantly," Canizales stated. "This initiative not only supports our commitment to environmental sustainability but also anticipates the future needs of our community."
Despite the county's forward-thinking approach, the decision has sparked debate among residents over the financing of the project. Karl Greten, a resident of the Gainesville District, voiced strong opposition to using taxpayer dollars for the installation of EV charging stations.
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The Prince William County Planning Commission has approved a special use permit (SUP) to construct a new church in the Potomac Magisterial District.
The proposed church, situated on 11 acres at the intersection of Route 234 (Dumfries Road) and Minnieville Road, has garnered both support and scrutiny from local officials and residents alike.
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Caruthers Properties withdrew its rezoning application, effectively concluding the developer’s effort to construct 1,400 new housing units at Belmont Bay, located in Woodbridge.
The Board of Concerned Citizens United welcomed the news for Belmont Bay, with President KP Lau expressing gratitude for the decision. “Personally, I would like to express my appreciation to the Caruthers for this momentous action. I believe it is appropriate at this juncture to take stock on where we are and what the future will hold for Belmont Bay,” said Lau.
The rezoning application, filed with Prince William County in June 2021, aimed to add 1,400 housing units to Belmont Bay, primarily on one-third of the former golf course land. Additionally, the proposal included the establishment of two public parks on the remainder of the golf course and replacing the Ospreys Event Center with 244 housing units. The plan also outlined the construction of 800 apartments in the Marina District and additional homes in various areas of Belmont Bay.
A vision of a hotel and conference center and a thriving business district once envisioned for Belmont Bay when construction began in the early 2000s was never realized, driving the developer’s desire for the rezoning.
The developer had hoped to build the final development phase on the land it acquired in the 1960s at the confluence of the Potomac and Occoquan rivers. A new boardwalk would have extended nearly 1,000 feet from the patio of the Beacon building to the George Mason University Science Center for river studies, which opened in 2018. Also, a new tree-lined urban plaza, performance space, and a new green space would span the length of Harbor Side Street between Beacon and the science center.
The proposed development faced opposition from environmental organizations, including the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, citing concerns over habitat destruction and adverse environmental impacts. Rob Hartwell, Vice President of the Riverbend Estate Association, joined forces with concerned citizens to oppose the rezoning application, emphasizing the need to preserve open space and protect wildlife habitats.
The application withdrawal follows months of deliberation and critique from the Prince William County Planning Office. The Planning Department raised 87 critical issues for the applicant, including concerns about open space allocation, amenities for current residents, and traffic implications. Despite a revised application presented in May 2022, which made minor technical adjustments, the proposal failed to adequately address the Planning Department’s concerns or engage with affected residents.
While acknowledging Caruthers Properties’ rights as landowners, Belmont Bay residents emphasize the importance of transparent dialogue and consideration for the community’s well-being in any future development plans. Moving forward, residents look forward to collaborative efforts with developers, environmental organizations, and local authorities to ensure responsible development that preserves the quality of life and natural environment in Belmont Bay.
A knife was discovered in the possession of a 15-year-old student at Colgan High School, prompting swift action by school authorities and law enforcement on February 14. According to reports, the incident unfolded at approximately 9:15 a.m. when the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Colgan High School was alerted to the weapon’s presence.
It was revealed during the subsequent investigation that the accused student had allegedly brandished the knife toward fellow students within a classroom setting.
Upon being informed of the situation, school personnel promptly notified the SRO, who, along with school staff, located and safely confiscated the knife from the student without further escalation. Fortunately, it was determined that the knife did not pose an immediate threat to other students, faculty, or staff members.
Following protocol, the 15-year-old male, identified as the accused, was placed under arrest and charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds. The accused is currently held at the Juvenile Detention Center, pending a court date.
This occurrence marks the second incident within as many months involving the possession of a knife on school premises, despite the recent deployment of $11 million in safety screening technology. The previous incident, which occurred at Potomac Senior High School on January 3, saw a similar discovery of a knife in a student’s possession, bypassing the implemented metal detectors.
In response to the incident, Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) spokeswoman Megan Silas emphasized the ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of students and staff. She highlighted the recent implementation of safety screening technology at middle and high schools across the district to enhance security measures. However, Silas acknowledged that despite the significant investment in such technology, incidents like these underscore the need for continuous evaluation and improvement of safety protocols.
“This situation remains under review,” stated Silas in an email to Potomac Local, emphasizing the district’s dedication to refining its processes in light of emerging challenges.
The installation of metal detectors, part of an $11 million investment in school safety measures, was undertaken by Prince William County Public Schools in collaboration with Evolv. The decision to adopt this technology at the division’s middle and high schools followed extensive deliberation, with school board members conducting firsthand assessments of the equipment’s efficacy in other jurisdictions.
With 92,000 students, Prince William County is Virginia’s second-largest public school division.
Manassas Ballet Theatre celebrated a significant milestone on February 9, 2024, marking its 40th anniversary season. Established in 1983 by Leslie Gearhart, the academy saw a transition in ownership in 1999 when Amy Wolfe took the reins.
Under Wolfe's leadership, a pivotal moment it occurred in 2007 when she donated the academy to the non-profit Manassas Performing Arts, Inc. This decision not only altered the institution's name from Manassas School of Ballet to the widely recognized Manassas Ballet Theatre but also underscored its commitment to fostering artistic endeavors in the community.
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With a road project as significant as the Interstate 66 Express Lanes, having an office open to the public is ideal for those wanting to ask questions to an actual person and discuss future initiatives that impact hundreds of thousands of people in the I-66 corridor.
There is a certain level of complications, too, with the switchable HOV E-ZPass, so an office along I-66 outside the beltway is ideal. Only it’s not open and doesn’t appear to be in operation.
Is it all just for show?
One I-66 E-ZPass Express Lanes driver, identified on Facebook as Lesser Will, showed up at an office on Balls Ford Road near Gainesville to inquire about the rules recently and the pricey tickets that are sent to the so-called violators, and the office was like a ghost town. (insert the echoing HE-LLL-OOOOOO reverberating off the canyon walls here)
“When I got there, I saw no dumpsters or work trucks, which are typically prevalent when you are having work done on a building. In fact, the lobby, which is referenced as being worked in, looks pretty untouched,” states Lesser Will, who also posted photos of a seemingly empty office in the Western Prince William Chatter Facebook Group.
When a driver is initially charged with a toll violation, they are charged the toll plus a $1.80 fee if they pay within five days of the violation. If they pay after five days but less than 35 days, the fee is $12.50. Between 45 and 89 days, the fee goes up to $25; after 90 days, the fee is $100. It gets worse 180 or more days after missed toll (court proceedings): $100 fee + toll + court fees + civil penalties, all set by Virginia law.
In this case, the driver had the “EZ-Pass Flex,” an EZ-Pass with the HOV option. He had it switched off so the toll would be charged, but he got a ticket anyway. In his case, the empty, dark office was a disappointment.
I-66 Mobility Partners operates the office, which spokeswoman Nancy Smith said is temporarily closed to the public while the walk-in customer service center is renovated. That center is the only office near the Balls Ford Rd park-and-ride lot on I-66 in Manassas.
“We look forward to re-opening it as soon as possible,” she said via email. The information is posted at the building’s entrance and on their website, ride66express.com.
On that website, an orange banner at the top states, “66 Express Outside the Beltway Service Center is closed until further notice for walk-in customers due to area improvements/renovations.”
In the meantime, she recommends, “Our Customer Service Team is continuing to meet with customers by appointment, and our agents are answering calls to 1-833-643-2867 within 45 seconds on average. We remain committed to assisting all our customers with their questions and concerns.”
