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.
The commemorative event, held at the academy’s location on 9004 Mathis Avenue in Manassas, featured a ceremonial ribbon cutting and a celebratory cake. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the facility and witness dancers rehearsing for their upcoming performance of Carmina Burana.
The festivities, organized in collaboration with the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, drew a diverse crowd, including local officials, chamber members, staff, and talented dancers. Among the esteemed guests were Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega, and Manassas School Board member Christina Brooks, who supported the academy.
Upcoming Manassas Ballet Theatre calendar events include the Wine & Cheese Behind the Scenes gathering and the 20th Annual Ballet Ball. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the theater’s website for further details and updates.
The theatre sits at 9004 Mathis Avenue in Manassas.
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Expressing his gratitude, Anderson said, “I appreciate the support from these dedicated public servants. I look forward to fighting alongside them to improve the lives of Stafford County residents.”
Anderson, who grew up in Spotsylvania County, emphasized his commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the community, attributing them to what he referred to as “Biden’s failed presidency.” He outlined his campaign’s focus on taking on key issues, including securing the border and restoring America’s standing in the world.
Crystal Vanuch, past Chair of the Board of Supervisors and a former contender for the congressional seat in the 2022 GOP primary, voiced her full support for Anderson. Vanuch highlighted their discussions on federal issues impacting localities and taxpayers, endorsing Anderson as the candidate who understands the district and is poised to fight for its residents in Congress.
Meg Bohmke, the current Chair of the Board of Supervisors, joined the endorsement, emphasizing the need for a representative who will advocate for the district, secure the border, and strengthen the economy. Bohmke urged others to rally behind Anderson, noting his roots in the 7th District and his deserving support.
Darrell English, representing the Hartwood District on the Board of Supervisors, echoed the sentiment, calling on voters to support Anderson, a local figure dedicated to serving the community and the country.
This marks Anderson’s second run at the 7th District Congressional seat. In 2022, he ran in a crowded party Primary Election.
The race has become more complex with Vega endorsing Cameron Hamilton, a Navy SEAL combat veteran and former Homeland Security division director. Vega, the party nominee in the 2022 race, supported Hamilton at the Prince William County Republican Committee meeting this week. Her nod comes after similar endorsements from Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) and Rep. Bob Good (R-Virginia, 5th District).
The endorsements come amid a competitive landscape, with eight Republicans, including Anderson, and eight Democrats, such as Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman, Margaret Franklin, Brianna Sewell, and Elizabeth Guzman, vying for the open seat in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Notably, incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger has opted not to seek reelection, aiming to run for Virginia’s governorship in 2025.
As the candidates vie for the open seat, Virginia’s Presidential Primary is scheduled for March 5, 2024. Early voting is underway, both by mail and in person. Find where to vote early.
Yesli Vega will not seek the Republican nomination for the 7th District Congressional race.
Vega was the party nominee in 2022 for the seat now held by Abigail Spanberger. She told Potomac Local News that she endorsed Hamilton at the Prince William County Republican Committee meeting.
Vega began a second term on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors this month.
It’s the latest in a series of endorsements for Hamilton, including the backing of Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Hamilton is married, a father of three, a Navy SEAL combat veteran, and a former Homeland Security division director with a military and public service background.
During his military career, he served in SEAL Team Eight and completed four overseas deployments supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Following an honorable discharge after 10 years, Cameron worked at the U.S. Department of State, supporting crisis response teams and the Bureau of Counterterrorism. His responsibilities included protecting congressional delegations and Ambassadors at U.S. Embassies and Diplomatic Missions. Later, he joined the Department of Homeland Security as the Director of the Emergency Medical Services Division, overseeing EMTs, First Responders, and Operational Medical Programs.
With a bachelor’s degree in health science, Cameron has extensive international experience, serving in over 35 countries under four different Presidential administrations. He and his family live in Orange, Virginia.
Virginia’s 7th Congressional District includes all or part of 10 counties, including Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Culpeper, King George, Orange, Madison, Greene, and Albermarle. It also includes Fredericksburg.
It’s an open seat this year after incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger announced she would not seek reelection and instead will run in 2025 to become Virginia’s next governor at the end of Glenn Youngkin’s term (Virginia is the only state in the union that does not permit incumbent governors from serving consecutive terms).
Spanberger, who worked as a federal law enforcement officer and a CIA officer before entering politics, was first elected to the 7th District seat in 2018.
In her 2022 matchup with Vega, Spanberger won 53% of the vote. Vega won eight of the 10 counties in the district, including Stafford and Spotsylvania. But she lost Prince William County, the most populated county in the district. Prince William voters are credited with giving Spanberger the win.
Hamilton is one of eight Republicans vying for the seat.
Eight Democrats- Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman, Margaret Franklin, Brianna Sewell, and Elizabeth Guzman, from Prince William County, and Clifford Heinzer, of Stafford County- also seek the seat.
Virginia’s Presidential Primary is on March 5, 2024. Early voting by mail and in-person is now underway. You can find your polling place here.
The supervisor is also collecting toys for children.
Supervisor Yesli Vega: “Help us put a smile on a child’s face this year! Our office is helping to collect new, unwrapped gifts for Toys for Tots. If you are able to help our efforts, you can drop off a gift at the Coles District Office (13476 Dumfries Rd) or bring a toy to our annual Christmas Tree Lighting event. We are accepting donations at our office Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM until Friday, December 15.”
Since 2020, Vega has been the elected Coles District Supervisor on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. Voters elected her to a second term on November 7, 2023.
Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin is running for Congress.
The Democrat filed to run in Virginia's 7th Congressional District to replace incumbent Abigail Spanberger, who announced she will run in 2025 to be Virginia's 75th Governor and not seek re-election to Congress. Spanberger has held the 7th District seat since 2018.
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Prince William County Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega will hold her annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 1, at 10:30 a.m., at Joseph Reading Park, 8460 Maplewood Drive, near Manassas.
From Vega:
Bring your family for games, light refreshments, and to see our special guest – the Easter Bunny!
The average price of a dozen eggs in the U.S. was $4.25 in 2022, up from $1.54 in 2019.
And it’s only expected to rise, making it more difficult for residents to feed their families. Prince William County Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega says she’s received letters, including one from the father of a family of 10, who goes through 20 eggs a day to feed his family, asking her if something can be done to ease the family’s egg woes.
On Tuesday, February 14, Vega asked the Prince William County Government staff to review the county’s Domestic Fowl Overlay District, where homeowners who live in the district may own one chicken per acre.
Vega asked then to consider revising the plan in the face of increasing grocery prices to allow homeowners who live on less than an acre also to have chickens. Vega said female fowl only, no roosters.
The Board of County Supervisors last updated the domestic fowl overlay district on February 2, 2021, adding nearly 3,400 more acres into the district where homeowners may keep chickens by right.
We’ll provide an update when the county staff responds to Vega’s request.
The congressional candidates made their closing arguments in the 2022 campaign at events across the region on Monday, November 7, 2022.
First Lady Jill Biden joined Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D), who is hoping to hold onto Virginia's 1oth District seat, which she's had for four years. The First Lady joined Wexton for an event in Loudoun County.
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President Donald Trump gave an unsolicited endorsement to Yesli Vega, prompting now a response from her campaign.
Trump urged voters to elect Vega, a Republican from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, to Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Trump posted the endorsement onto his Truth social media platform and called her a “strong Republican voice against violent crime and all other things destroying our nation. He also wrote, “Vega is a warrior for America First,” and tied to Spanberger to voting to support President Biden’s agenda 100% of the time, despite campaigning as a moderate.
On Friday, a Vega campaign spokesman said Trump’s endorsement appeared after Vega appeared on the Fox News Channel. She didn’t ask for it.
Here’s a statement from the campaign.
“President Trump joins the thousands of Virginians who have been supporting our campaign here in the 7th District, because they are discouraged with the failure of leadership they see from Joe Biden and Abigail Spanberger.
“Virginians are demanding lower cost of living, better schools, and safer streets. We started a movement last year here in Virginia and I am so excited to take this movement to Washington and deliver on those demands.” – Yesli Vega, Republican Nominee for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District
Republicans in Virginia are cautious about cozying up to Trump, as Democrats took over both houses of state government during his term in the White House. Last year, Gov. Glenn Youngkin kept Trump at arm’s length during his successful campaign for governor.
Trump is widely seen as a front-runner in the 2024 Presidential Election and never conceded his loss to Biden in 2020.
Meanwhile, in a new statement released today, Spanberger ties Vega to State Senator Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield). She says she’ll introduce the “Life Begins at Conception Act to ban abortion in Virginia during the January 2023 General Assembly session. Chase said the bill mirrors legislation introduced in congress by Rep. Bob Good (R-Va., 5).
“The unborn child is a human person from the moment of conception. Abortion was never mentioned in the United States Constitution. But you know what was mentioned? The right to life,” Chase states in a video posted to Facebook.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a 40-year precedent on abortion, sending the issue back to state legislatures to decide whether or not to permit abortion.
Earlier this year, Washington, D.C.’s NBC4-TV reported that Vega supports the right to life.
The last day to vote early in person is this Saturday, November 5. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8.
