The U.S. Navy Band Cruisers will perform at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

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It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Joseph Paul Todaro II “shuffled off this mortal coil” on October 18th, 2021, after an epic battle with cancer.

He will be remembered by his loving wife Marion, his twins Michael Todaro and Julie Todaro-Lawser and their long suffering spouses, Erin Schwab and Matthew Lawser, his adoring grandchildren Brian, Sophia, Jack and Christopher, his (always humming) loving sister Jetta, his other sister Julie , and best friends Jimmy Forsythe, Vince Sabia, and Paige Pinkett, as well as a host of nieces and nephews who loved and adored him.

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The 94 Prince William crossing guards play a major role in keeping children safe throughout the school year.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors recently named Feb. 10, 2021, as Crossing Guard Appreciation Day to recognize the highly qualified, trained professional corps of dedicated men and women who protect children and teach them pedestrian safety.

In the past school year, crossing guards successfully conducted 19,920 crossings and helped approximately 638,256 children safely cross County roads in sometimes adversarial, hostile, and dangerous conditions, as they perform their duties.

There have been no deaths or serious injuries to any child at any school crossing in the 57-year history of the Prince William crossing guards.

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) has been working to secure vaccinations for School Division staff through the Prince William Health District, INOVA, and Novant UVA Health System.

Late last Friday night, PWCS was notified of 100 available vaccinations at INOVA Fairfax. This past Saturday and Sunday, these vaccinations were administered to Tier 1 employees who have been working in-person. Tier 1 employees are those with documented underlying medical conditions that place them at high risk per the CDC if they were to contract COVID-19. PWCS has no control over the number of vaccinations available.

As a result of the work of School Board Chairman At-Large Dr. Babur Lateef and our PWCS teams, including the Office of Communications Services and pandemic team, and with the support of our school nurses, PWCS is working with NOVANT to offer 750 additional vaccinations to Tier 1 employees this weekend. More detailed information will be sent in the next few days via email and text messages to eligible employees. PWCS is also in the planning stages to offer 2,400 vaccinations to staff the following weekend (January 30-31).

As the health district partners make vaccines available, PWCS will move forward with registering the remaining teachers and staff in Prince William County starting Thursday, January 28, with vaccines starting Saturday, January 30. As information becomes available regarding vaccinations for additional staff members, PWCS will share it with employees as soon as possible.

The Virginia Department of Education is seeking partners to participate in the commonwealth’s Summer Food Service Program this year to ensure that children have access to nutritious meals during months when school is not in session.

The department reimburses approved organizations for meals served and for associated administrative costs. In addition, all participants receive training and technical assistance from VDOE.

The Summer Food Service Program operates at sites such as schools, public housing centers, community centers, playgrounds, camps, parks, and churches. Organizations that may qualify to participate in the program include public and private schools, local governments, public and nonprofit private residential summer camps, and nonprofit faith-based and community-based organizations.

“Summer meal programs play a critical role in bridging the gap between school years and ensuring that children have access to nutritious meals during the summer months and are ready to learn when the new school year begins in August or September,” Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane said. “I’d also like to express my gratitude to our 2020 summer food service partners for their amazing and heroic efforts to keep children fed during the pandemic.”

Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, Virginia’s 139 Summer Food Service Program partner organizations served more than 14 million meals to children between June and August last year.

The program — which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — allows organizations to combine a feeding program with another activity in communities where at least 50% of the children are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

Information for organizations interested in applying to participate in the Summer Food Service Program — including details on application deadlines — is available on the VDOE website.

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.

Safety in the built environment is an essential component of maintaining public health, making Building Safety Month in May more relevant now than ever before.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Building Safety Month. The campaign, “Safer Buildings, Safer Communities, Safer World,” highlights the importance of building codes for providing a strong and resilient built environment. Regularly updated codes ensure that our residential and business communities are protected in the face of natural disasters.

Today, with many residents staying at home, they can trust that they are in a safe environment, thanks to the state and county codes upheld by the Prince William County Department of Development Services, the lead development services agency, and its local industry, business and utility partners.

Wade Hugh, Director, Department of Development Services, Prince William County said: “We’re in the business of assisting customers with their projects while at the same time ensuring the safety of the public and the protection of the natural environment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Building Safety and Maintaining a Healthy Work Environment, has forged innovation that is more technology-driven.”

“To date we have more online connectivity to our employees and customers, than ever before, with brand new services, such as: a dedicated COVID-19 Response webpage; a brand new Customer Electronic Plan Review (ePlan) Guide; Remote Video for Construction Inspections and for Special Inspections a COVID-19 Self Certification form which now includes the installation of gas appliances, solar panels, and car chargers; Temporary Signs usage  reminder; and Customer Service E-Bulletins to share important changes from County agencies and partners.” added Hugh.

The Department is charged with helping customers navigate the myriad of rules, regulations and policies in the most efficient and timely manner possible during the commercial development process. These efforts contribute to the success of the customer and the success of the community.

The county is interested in hearing ideas for improvement in the commercial development process. If you have thoughts or ideas you’d like to share, please contact us at [email protected]  or visit pwcgov.org.

Carolyn Hawe (1932 – 2020) of Chesapeake, Va. passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, April 25, 2020.

Carolyn was predeceased by her husband Russell, her son Richard, and her grandsons Robert, Jr., Ryan, and Nicolas. Carolyn is survived by her children Hilarie, Carol, Robert, Mark, Abby, Jim, Meredith, Natalia; ten grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to her own children, Carolyn also provided a loving home to 85 foster children.
Carolyn was an avid reader. She loved to cook and play bridge. Carolyn also enjoyed vacationing in London with her husband and traveling around the globe with family.

For ten years Carolyn volunteered her free time to the Hotline Thrift Store in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request her memory be honored with a memorial donation to the Outer Banks Hotline at https://www.obhotline.org/donate/.

Moses Leroy Nafzinger, 90, passed away on April 27, 2020, at Thornapple Manor in Hastings, Michigan. He was born on November 6, 1929, on the family farm in Long Green, Maryland to Lois Krabill Nafzinger and Lewis M. Nafzinger.

He graduated from Towson High School, in Towson, Maryland, Juniata College, in Huntingdon Pennsylvania, and received his medical degree from the University of Maryland in Baltimore.

He met his future wife, Jean Larue Wolfe, when she was in nursing school at Church Home Hospital in Baltimore, while he was performing his residency there. He entered the US Navy and was stationed at Quantico, Virginia. He and Jean opened a medical practice, that they worked in the evenings, in a room over a drugstore.

After his discharge from the Navy they stayed in that area working together to provide medical services to the Woodbridge, Virginia community for over 42 years. In the early years his family lived over the office, and since there wasn’t a hospital nearby, he also had a small emergency room. The family eventually moved to Fairfax Station, Virginia. He and Jean retired from their medical practice in 1998. Jean predeceased him in 2004 as the result of an automobile accident. They had celebrated 49 years of marriage.

In 2011, Mo moved to Michigan to live with his daughter.

“Doctor Mo” was a kind and gentle person who treated everyone with respect. He was a quiet person, seldom seeking attention for himself, who was well-liked by all. Very intelligent, he was an avid reader, a gardener, a bridge player, bowler and a stamp collector.

He was a loving husband and father; a wonderful role model. He enjoyed animals and the family home included numerous cats, dogs and rabbits. Each year he vacationed with his family in Ocean City, Maryland where he relaxed by reading books, bicycling, eating crabs and floating in the ocean.

He found pleasure in feeding the deer, birds, squirrels and chipmunks that visited his backyard. He was a member of the Occoquan Masonic Lodge and rose to the Degree of Master Mason. In recent years, a livelier personality emerged and he became a favorite resident at Thornapple Manor where he moved in 2014.

His daughters will be forever grateful for the excellent care that he received there. The staff treated him as if he were part of their family and called him “Grandpa.”

Mo was preceded in death by his parents, Lois and Lewis Nafzinger, his brother John Nafzinger and his sister-in-law, Shirley. He is survived by his daughters Karen Moore (Tom) of Fairfax Station, Virginia and Nancy Carter (Jim) of Battle Creek, Michigan. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Johanna Moore, Kathryn Moore, Tom Carter and Becky Carter (Eric Charles), and his great-grandson Shannon Charles. He is also survived by his brother Clyde Nafzinger (Carolyn), his sisters-in-law Sandra Nafzinger and Erica Nafzinger, his brother-in-law Keith Michael and his sister-in-law Marion Michael.

Memorial contributions may be made to Thornapple Manor, 2700 Nashville Road, Hastings, Michigan 49058 or to Brain Chemistry Labs, 1130 South Highway 89, Suite 3, Jackson, Wyoming 83001 to support Alzheimer’s research. In accordance with his wishes, cremation has occurred. A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Virginia with interment to follow in Fairfax Memorial Gardens, next to his wife Jean. Arrangements provided by Girrbach Funeral Home, Hastings, Michigan. To leave online condolences visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.