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Stay Connected With Chair Wheeler
Issue 73
Friday, July 9, 2021
Prince William County
Dear Neighbors,

There’s so much going on in PWC!

I was honored to participate in Fox 5’s Zip Trip at The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm as they highlighted some of the great places to visit in the I-66/Rt 29 corridor. It made me realize all the explosive energy that seems to be taking the county residents and businesses by storm.

So many new businesses opening up, so many people moving here, so many visitors realizing Prince William County is a great destination for everything from wineries to hiking to innovative culinary experiences.

Prince William County is alive and well, moving into its next chapter with a bright and exciting future. Prince William County, we have it all!

In Service,
Chair Ann Wheeler
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Chair's Calendar
This week's Fox 5 Zip Trip navigated its way to Gainesville and explored all it has to offer. On their dedicated webpage you'll find one video after another about the area, including a Talk of the Town segment with Chair Wheeler and a First Responder Friday segment with PWC Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief James Forgo.
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Conversation With the Chair
Talking About Transit
If you missed the June 30 transit focused Conversation with the Chair, you can watch it on demand below. You'll hear directly from senior leaders at Virginia Railway Express and OmniRide on relevant topics to include:
  • How the pandemic impacted their services? (What about first responders?)
  • What they are currently doing? (Did someone say zero fares?)
  • What they have on the horizon? (What's the great reshuffling?)
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COVID-19
Request a Mobile Vaccination Clinic
Organizations in PWC, City of Manassas, and the City of Manassas Park can now request a mobile vaccination clinic from Prince William Health District! Start the process by completing the form at PWHD Vax Request. Once submitted, someone from the PWHD clinic branch will be in touch with your point of contact within 5 business days. Please note, If you have a preferred clinic date, PWHD needs at least 2 weeks advance notice.
Manassas Mall Vaccination Clinic Closing Soon
Saturday, July 24 is the last day the Manassas Mall Vaccination Clinic will be open. Until then, they are holding second dose vaccinations for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations on:

  • Saturday, July 10, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Moderna vaccine
  • Thursday, July 15, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Moderna vaccine
  • Saturday, July 17, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Pfizer vaccine
  • Thursday, July 22, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Pfizer vaccine
  • Saturday, July 24, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Moderna vaccine
Appointments can be scheduled at VASE.

Walk-ins are also welcome for first doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine during the above days and hours of operation. However, due to the timing required between first and second doses, you will need to find another location to receive the second dose by visiting vaccines.gov.
There is Still Time to Participate
The Prince William Health District (PWHD) is asking the community to please take a few minutes and provide their thoughts on the COVID-19 vaccine by completing a survey. All responses are anonymous and will be compared to a December 2020 survey.
The feedback will help the PWHD and its partners better understand:

  • The community's vaccine acceptance.
  • Where they find their information.
  • What barriers exist to being vaccinated.
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BOCS
Tuesday, June 13
2:30 pm and 7:00 pm

For Public Comment Time options,
visit SpeakUp! Prince William.
Remote speakers must sign-up by
5:00 pm on Monday, June 12.
In-person speakers can sign up at the meeting.
The BOCS will be voting on the 2021-2024 Strategic Plan draft at the July 13 meeting. This is following the community input period in May (issue 65)
and the BOCS public listening session in June (issue 69). Focusing on seven critical areas, the plan provides key policy guidance for service delivery and resource allocation decisions. In short, it is our future.
The Strategic Plan provides a goal statement, objectives, action strategies, and key performance indicators/measures for the following 7 goals:

  1. Health, Wellbeing & Human Services
  2. Safe & Secure Community
  3. Resilient Economy
  4. Quality Education & Workforce Development
  5. Environmental Conservation
  6. Sustainable Growth
  7. Transportation & Mobility
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County News
UVA Health
On July 1, Novant Health UVA Health System became UVA Health. The Northern Virginia regional health system was previously owned by the two institutions through a joint operating company. Patients living in PWC will benefit as UVA Health builds on the established framework. This will provide an expanded range of available services including streamlined access to comprehensive care, more opportunities for patients to access clinical trials, and better support highly specialized care.
U.S. News & World Report UVA Health Rankings
Small Business Growth
In May, thirty-two businesses received a ‘Certificate of Occupancy’ or official letter to ‘Open for Business’ from the Department of Development Services’ Small Business Project Management Program. The types of small business range from auto care, beauty & spa services, health/home care services, home improvement contractors, professional services, grocery, retail, and restaurants. As diverse as the range of business types are, each month tells a new success story, with a unique line up of new business products and services.
Upcoming Meeting
The next Racial and Social Justice Commission meeting is on Thursday, July 15, at 6:30 pm. The public is invited to participate and share their experiences on education, government services, and/or policing in person or remotely during public comment time. Pre-register here to speak remotely. The meeting will be held at the J. James McCoart Administration Building located at 1 County Court Complex in Woodbridge. You can also view the meeting live stream here.
Help Shape Important Policy
PWC Government is committed to diversity of perspective, equity, and inclusion. One step in the process is creating an Equity and Inclusion Policy. This will serve to advance and cultivate continual transformations toward equity and justice within the county government itself, its practices, and services. All residents are encouraged to read a read a draft of the policy and provide their comments here.
Senior Centers Reopening
Effective July 1, the PWC Area Agency on Aging Manassas and Woodbridge Senior Centers opened to the public Monday through Friday with a modified schedule. Using the phased-in approach, the hours of operation, with lunch served at noon, will be as follows:
  • July 12 through July 23 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
  • July 26 through August 6 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm 
  • August 9 onward, full operating hours of 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Reservations are required, by phone only, no later than 10:30 am:

  • Manassas Senior Center, located at 9320 Mosby Street, phone 703-792-6405
  • Woodbridge Senior Center, located at 13850 Church Hill Drive, phone 703-792-5081
Making it Easier to go Green
The Virginia Department of Transportation announced this week a new feature to help drivers find electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. On the 511virginia.org website, use the left side navigation, scroll down below Legend and look for EV Charging Stations under icon layers. You can also
search for EV Charging Stations in the VDOT 511 Virginia Traffic app.
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County Kudos
At the National Association of Counties annual conference this week, the PWC Co-Responder Unit received a Criminal Justice and Public Safety achievement award. A joint collaborative effort between the PWC Police Department and Community Services, the Co-Responder Unit is comprised of three police officers and three mental health clinicians who respond together to calls for service involving individuals in crisis. Utilizing this team approach allows them to meet the person in crisis in the community where they are most comfortable, feel secure and can maintain their dignity. The Unit utilizes crisis intervention techniques and other problem-solving skills to de-escalate situations and develop resolutions that are in the best interest of individuals in crisis as well as the community.
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Regional News
Critical Shortage
Currently, the American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries rise. Combined with a donation decline during the pandemic, this has led to a significant decrease in the nation’s blood inventory. All blood types are needed, particularly type O, as well as platelets. You can make an appointment by using the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS
COVID-19 Vaccination Donation Eligibility

The Red Cross is following FDA blood donation eligibility guidance for those who have received a COVID-19 vaccination. Upon vaccination, you should have been given a card or printout indicating what COVID-19 vaccine was received. You are encouraged to bring that card with you to your donation. In most cases, there is no deferral time for individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccine as long as they are symptom free and feeling well at the time of donation. More details are available here.
Motivate to Donate
When PWC resident Sophia Branca was 12 she needed a blood transfusion. This sparked a passion that led her to establish Motivate to Donate. The nonprofit focuses on educating children about the importance of donating blood through a series of coloring books she designs. She also educates everyone about blood donation through her "Fact Friday" posts on her Motivate to Donate Instagram account (one donation can save up to three lives!) Send Sophia a message via her Instagram (message only available on mobile devices) and Facebook accounts to learn more.
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An Important Acknowledgement
Making a Difference in Our Lives
July is National Park & Recreation Month! This year's National Recreation and Park Association theme is “Our Park and Recreation Story." Throughout the month, PWC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism will showcase stories on the department’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. They also hope you will share some of your stories of how parks and/or recreation made a difference (no matter how small) in your life.
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Virginia News
Affordable and Special Needs Housing
Governor Ralph Northam announced this week more than $21 million in Affordable and Special Needs Housing loans for 24 projects across Virginia, creating or preserving 1,266 affordable housing units for low-income and extremely low-income households. The funding will improve accessto affordable housing, reduce homelessness, provide permanent supportive housing options for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and complete energy efficiency updates in affordable housing units.
2021 Spring Affordable and Special Needs Housing Awardees Include:

Quarry Station | Wesley Housing
City of Manassas
Quarry Station is the renovation of 79 units of existing one- and two-bedroom senior apartments. It will include improvements to HVAC systems, installation of new water-saving fixtures, improvements to the accessibility and durability of common areas, the addition of a single one-bedroom unit, and upgrades to the parking lot and outdoor areas.

Oak Street Aging in Place | Community Havens, Inc.
City of Manassas
Oak Street Aging in Place is the new construction of a single-level, fully ADA-accessible home with six bedrooms and adjoining baths. The site already serves five individuals in a two-story home that is not ADA-compliant. This new construction will serve individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who have escalating needs as they age.
Ann B. Wheeler was elected Chair At-Large of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors during the 2019 General Election and assumed office on January 1, 2020. Prince William County is located 25 miles south of Washington, D.C., and is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s second-most populous county with approximately 470,000 residents.