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Issue 180
Friday, September 29, 2023
Prince William County
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Dear Neighbors,
It is always an honor to be able to highlight the accomplishments and strengths of Prince William County. This week, I had the pleasure of doing that on two occasions.
The first is the AAA Bond Rating, that was once again given the County from Fitch and Moody’s rating agencies. Both not only continued to rate us “AAA,” but also “Stable.” This fantastic achievement is an outgrowth of strong fiscal management on behalf of our Financial division and the application of Sound Financial Principles on behalf of the Board, with their expert guidance. The County works hard to earn that AAA rating (which reduces our borrowing costs when we go out to the market for Bond financing) by making sure we have the strongest ratios in place with respect to reserves, capital spending as a part of overall revenues, our levels of debt, and our management practices. Congratulations again to all our employees, as it takes a village to achieve this goal.
The second relates to a Bisnow event held this week at Sweeney Barn in Prince William County. I was invited to give the keynote address at this well-attended event which covered an overview of Prince William County and the state of the commercial real estate sector. My remarks, extolling the virtues of Prince William County, can be found here. There were two expert panels at the event that focused on all things Prince William County. The first were some of our own exemplary employees including our County Executive Christopher Shorter, our Director of Economic Development Christina Winn and our Director of Transportation, Rick Canizales. They covered a myriad of areas and spoke about how the county government is so crucial in shaping the future of the County as we continue to grow and add another 100k people from 2020-2050 per the MWCOG projections. This was followed by a panel of local commercial business experts who spoke about the strength of Prince William County even in the midst of some economic uncertainty. It was an excellent event and we are lucky to have the national firm of Bisnow showcasing our County.
I am always grateful to be able to highlight our strengths and accomplishments. There are so many of these around Prince William County, that many people recognize, as we enter an even brighter future. As the second largest County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, we have established ourselves as a strong regional player and a strong, attractive component of Northern Virginia as a whole. We are very fortunate.
In Service,
Chair Ann Wheeler
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Saturday, September 23, Chair Wheeler attended a reception with LPGA star Jessica Korda at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. The gathering was a celebration the 2024 Solheim Cup coming to PWC (County News issue 168) and the collective commitment to making it an unparalleled experience. | |
Monday, September 25, Chair Wheeler participated in a meeting organized by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission of regional Mayors and Chairs with the Health Commissioners to get an update on COVID, COVID trends, new COVID booster, and other related matters. | |
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Wednesday, September 27, Chair Wheeler was the keynote speaker at Bisnow's Exploring Prince William County. The event included two panel of experts. One focused on the County's Economic Growth, Investments, and Plans. The other focused on the state of the County's State of the Market.
See County Kudo below for more economic development news!
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"As you drive around the area, and throughout the County, you can see so many projects rising from the ground, many were planned before I got in this seat, and are now coming to fruition. PWC is an exciting place to be at the moment. In essence, Prince William County is shedding its previous identity as a quiet bedroom community for Washington, D.C., and emerging as an economic and social powerhouse in its own right."
Ann Wheeler
Chair At-Large Board of County Supervisors
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Bisnow is the world's leading B2B platform serving the commercial real estate industry. From events and news to branded content and recruiting solutions, Bisnow reaches more than 11 million readers and hosts more than 650 events each year. Operating in over 50 local markets across the U.S., Canada, the UK and Ireland, our products inform and connect the commercial real estate business to do more business. | | | |
Wednesday, September 27, Chair Wheeler's Office participated in the ribbon cutting event at Ellie Mental Health new clinic in Woodbridge (County News issue 175). Ellie's mission and vision is to make mental health accessible to all in the community and to destigmatize mental illness. Clinic Director Patrick Curley (front center), LCSW, performed the ribbon-cutting honors. Neabsco Supervisor Victor Angry (far left) also attended the event. | |
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Friday, September 29, Chair Wheeler participated in the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance (The Alliance) 19th annual What You Need to Know About Transportation breakfast where she was honored with the 2023 Hazel Transportation Leadership Award for her tireless work on behalf of transportation in Prince William County and the entire DC region.
The Alliance cited Chair Wheeler's leadership on transportation infrastructure including:
- Advocating for Route 28 improvements in Prince William County
- Championing a balanced, regional approach to transportation at the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the National Capital Region’s Transportation Planning Board
- Working tirelessly to better connect Prince William and Loudoun Counties
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About the Award
The Hazel Transportation Leadership Award is named in honor of John T. “Til” Hazel and William A. “Bill” Hazel for their support of a regional transportation network and other initiatives that transformed Northern Virginia’s economy and made the area a better place to live. It is given each year for exceptional leadership on regional transportation issues and recognizes a proven leader for their influence on transportation and our community. Past award recipients include former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Prince William Supervisor Marty Nohe, Sid Dewberry, and Bob Buchanan.
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The next BOCS meeting is Tuesday, October 10, at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm.
Links to the agenda and to register to participate in Public Comment Time remotely will be shared in issue prior to the meeting.
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Tuesday, September 26, BOCS Proclamations and Commendations | |
Members of Salex, a non-profit, cultural, civic and educational organization which promotes programs and activities of art, culture, sport and social organization accepted the proclamation. | |
Members of the PWC Fire and Rescue Service accepted the proclamation. | |
Coach Warzywak (back center) and members of the team accepted the proclamation. | |
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That's Not All
Colgan senior forward Samantha DeGuzman was named the 2023 Class 6 Player of the Year. She finished her brilliant season with 28 goals and 12 assists. Her 89 career goals are the fourth most in VHSL history by a Class 6 player, along with 32 career assists.
Colgan Head Coach Tom Warzywak was named the 2023 Class 6 Coach of the Year. In addition to winning the school's first Class 6 state title with a record of 21-1-1, the team won their third consecutive district championship and the program’s first region championship. Warzywak became the team's coach in 2019. Since the 2020 COVID year, his teams have been 49-3-1 and 65-8-4 overall.
Read more about both in this InsideNoVa article.
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OWL Vice President and Life Member Susan Wessolleck and Volunteer Fire Department President Dave Williams accepted the proclamation. | |
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OWL has received a Governor's Fire Service award:
- For A call in June of 2021, where critical quick decisions saved 3 lives and a family pet.(County Kudos issue 105).
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Along with PWC Department of Fire Rescue and Dumfries-Triangle Volunteer Fire Department for their collective response to the January 2022 major winter event.
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Since 1987, the Dale City Farmers Market has been serving PWC residents, with nearly 50 vendors in the summer and more than 30 in the winter, it's one of the largest open-air markets in the region. It operates:
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Spring/Summer/Fall - Saturdays, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, April through November.
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Winter - Saturdays, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, December through March.
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Fitch and Moody’s Credit Ratings has confirmed the County’s AAA bond rating with a ‘Stable’ outlook. The press release stated, "The County has a superior level of inherent budget flexibility, supported by an unlimited independent revenue raising capacity and solid spending flexibility to manage through economic cycles." | | |
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The Route 234 / Brentsville Road Interchange Project (Chair's Calendar issue 110) pedestrian bridge is in place. The regional significant $55 million project, fully funded by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, will include bridges, ramps and pedestrian facilities. The bridge, along with the rest of the interchange, is scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2024 | |
Monday, October 9, in PWC | |
- Government offices, libraries, and solid waste facilities will be open and operating on the regular weekday hours.
- Courts and other offices that operate within the Courthouse, such as the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, and the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, will be closed.
- Public School System is holding a professional learning day with no school for all students.
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Area Transit is Operating as Follows:
- Virginia Railway Express will not offer service.
- OmniRide Express buses will not offer service, while all other buses will operate on regular Monday schedule.
- Metrorail will operate on Saturday holiday schedule of 5:00 am to midnight.
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The Prince William County Department of Economic Development’s (PWCDED) marketing and real estate development projects were recognized at this year’s International Economic Development Council (IEDC) 2023 Excellence Awards. Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world, following a nomination process held earlier this year.
For the population size between 200,000 and 500,000, PWCDED won the following awards for Economic Excellence:
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Additional Details
IEDC is the largest nonprofit association for professional economic developers in the world. Its Excellence Awards recognize the world's best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year's most influential leaders. Twenty-five award categories honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
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Saturday, September 30, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, the Manassas Latino Festival, will be held at the Harris Pavilion located at 9201 Center Street in old town Manassas. The annual event, held during National Hispanic Heritage Month, is a celebration of the cultural heritage and contributions of the Latin American community. There will be live music, dance performances, diverse foods, and many other fun activities for the entire family. The event is free to the public. | | |
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Yankey Farms is opening its pick your own Pumpkin Patch Saturday, September 30. In addition to picking the perfect pumpkin, you can get lost in the corn maze, take a hayride, visit with the farm animals, take a trip on the cow train, and play in the kids play area. They also have pumpkins, Indian corn, gourds, corn stalks, and straw bales at the 14841 Glenkirk Road stand. | |
Saturday, October 14, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, PWC Parks and Recreation is hosting its first annual Family Pumpkin Carving Contest at Veterans Memorial Park in Woodbridge. Each family will receive carving utensils and one pumpkin to carve to submit for judging. All family members participating must pre-register here. | |
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Saturday, September 30, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, the PWC Police Department is hosting a Faith and Blue Car Show with Grace Life Church at its location in Bristow. Members of the traffic unit, mounted unit, community engagement and more will be on hand with displays for a meet and greet. | |
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About Faith and Blue
Faith and Blue is based on the premise that strong communities are built through mutual respect and understanding. Law enforcement and faith institutions are key pillars of each community, and when they work together, neighborhoods thrive. Faith and Blue events facilitate safer and stronger communities by engaging law enforcement officers and local residents through the connections of faith-based organizations.
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Support Entrepreneuring 4-H'ers | |
Saturday, October 7, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, the Prince William 4-H Young Entrepreneurs will be at the Manassas Market. Stop by and see Ayden, Lexi, Koa, Xanthie and Aisling, Amari, Zaynab, Diallo, Lyra and Cora, and Nisaur, who will be selling their creations and demonstrating how local youth THRIVE with 4-H. This will be their last weekend at the market. | |
Wednesday, October 25, at 6:00 pm, the PWC Region Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington is hosting its annual GreatBigKid (Chair's Calendar issue 139) fundraising event at the Martin K. Alloy Club of Manassas located at 9501 Dean Park Lane. Held at the end of its Big Kid Program, the celebration is held to recognize our mentor/mentee pairs and award the title of “The Great Big Kid of the Year” to the Big Kid that raises the most funds. Tickets to the event can be purchased here. You can also show your support by helping one of the teams reach its fundraising goal here. | |
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About the Big Kid Program
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington’s Big Kid Program pairs six Mentors to serve as role models to provide academic, social, and in-person support during the mentoring phase. Each Mentor is encouraged to share their experience and the impact the Boys & Girls Club is making in their community, with the objective of raising awareness and increasing sponsorship to provide more opportunities for our youth.
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County Website and Career Opportunities
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Real Estate Assessment and Personal Property Tax information
- Personal Property Payment and Changes Online Portal
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Solid Waste, Disposal Guide, Yard Waste, and Recycling
- Residential Zoning: Decks, Sheds, Fences, Additions, Retaining Walls, and Swimming Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs
- Library Branch Locations and Hours
- Parks and Recreation Online Location and Information Mapper
- Current Road Projects
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Pet Adoption and Dog Licenses
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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 482,000 residents. | | | | |
