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Issue 119
Friday, June 3, 2022
Prince William County
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Dear Neighbors,
We talk a lot about the importance of green space in Prince William County and with good reason. We have over 30,000 acres of federal, state, and local parks for residents to enjoy. This also includes wildlife preserves and the largest green space in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, Prince William Forest Park. Yet, in true Prince William County fashion, the story doesn't end there.
The County also offers a wonderful and diverse amount of water featured "blue space.” I was struck by the importance of our blue space at this year's annual Blessing of the Fleet by the Occoquan River Maritime Association (article below). It was a beautiful, sun-filled day with people out and about either near or on the water.
As I noted in issue 66, Woodbridge is the Boating Capital of Virginia, Prince William County has almost 30 miles of shoreline along the Potomac River. Additionally, we have the Occoquan Bay, Occoquan River, Lake Ridge, Silver Lake, the award winning Neasbso Creek Boardwalk, and more. All this blue space offers our residents an ample number of marinas, numerous preserves, and parks throughout the County.
Blue space is a key part of the diversity we offer as a County. We are the 10th most diverse county in the nation in terms of demographics and certainly one of the most diverse counties in Virginia in terms of our landscape. We have it all - from the Bull Run Mountains to the farms of Nokesville to the treed slopes bordering the Occoquan Reservoir to sandy shores of the Potomac.
Blue space is an important part of this landscape diversity and one of the many strengths of Prince William County. From Silver Lake in Haymarket to the Potomac River in Leesylvania State Park, our blue space is the best in northern Virginia. Let the summer months begin!
In Service,
Chair Ann Wheeler
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Saturday, May 21, Chair Wheeler attended the annual Occoquan River Maritime Association Blessing of the Fleet at Belmont Bay Harbor Marina (issue 117). Boats 502 and 512 of the Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department led participant boats upriver and then provided a water spray demonstration as the vessels returned downriver to Belmont Bay Harbor Marina where the blessing boat was docked.
The blessing is a centuries-old tradition to ensure a safe and bountiful season. This year's official boat blesser was Timothy Bauckman, founder of Tim's Rivershore. The successful restaurant opened in 1994 in Dumfries, which led to three additional locations.
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Friday, May 27, Chair Wheeler showed her appreciation to Tanisha Williams, an employee in the PWC Finance Department, for providing outstanding customer service. A customer who Tanisha recently assisted, sent our office a note stating, "I have not met anymore more helpful in Federal or County service than Ms. Williams." The customer went on to say Tanisha handled the reason for her visit professionally and warmly, she also answered her additional questions and helped her take advantage of a personal property tax high mileage reduction.
You can learn more about various types of personal property tax relief here or by contacting the Department of Finance Taxpayer Services at 703-792-6710 Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm.
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Left to right: Rocio Lamb, Tanisha's Supervisor, and Tanisha Williams | |
The Prince William Health District (PWHD) COVID-19 Locality Metrics Dashboard dated Tuesday, May 31, showed Prince William County, as well as the City of Manassas were still in a medium level of community transmission, while the City of Manassas Park had returned to a low level. The CDC guidelines for individual and household prevention methods by community transmission level can be found here. | |
Protecting Yourself and Others:
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Tuesday, June 7
2:00 pm
Please read below for important information regarding the meeting.
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Important Meeting Information | |
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Due to the recent extensive water damage in the County's control (broadcast) room, the equipment located in the room, and the cabling in the ceiling (issue 118), remote Public Comment Time will NOT be available at the Tuesday, June 7 meeting. To participate in Public Comment Time, you must attend the meeting in-person at the McCoart Building, at 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge.
You may also leave a written comment about the agenda here or send an email to the Board. Please note, while written comments and emails will be shared with all the Board Supervisors, they will not be read aloud during the meeting.
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Tuesday, June 7, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, PWC Government is hosting a Community Celebration and Information Day to kick off the month of Pride. The event will be held at 5 County Complex Court in Woodbridge and feature food trucks, a DJ, a spirit wear contest, and information tables. For more information, email the Office of Equity and Inclusion at [email protected]. | |
LGBTQ Pride Month is June and celebrates the presence and contributions of the community while raising awareness of issues still facing the LGBTQ community. The event is celebrated in June in honor of the Stonewall Riots. On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, that resulted in multiple days of protests. The following year, the first Pride March was held in New York City and was referred to as “Christopher Street Liberation Day” in honor of the street where the Stonewall Inn was located. You can learn more about Pride Month here. | | | | |
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Nationally, June 1 through July 4 Fireworks Safety is promoted. During this time healthcare practitioners and public safety officials warn consumers about the dangers of fireworks that can result in injury, death, and destruction of property. The safest way to prevent fireworks-related injuries or worse is to leave fireworks displays to the professionals. However, if you do decide to use fireworks, you will find helpful tips below. If you have more questions, visit PWC Fire Marshal's Office's Fireworks FAQs. | |
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If you do decide to purchase fireworks, be sure:
Even legal fireworks can be dangerous, so here are some safety tips:
- Fireworks should only be used under adult supervision.
- Fireworks should only be used outdoors on a driveway sidewalk or other fire-resistant surface.
- Keep a bucket of water handy in case sparks start a fire.
- Be sure children around fireworks know to stop drop and roll if their clothing catches on fire.
- Deposit sparklers in a metal container as they may be stepped on while hot or lost in the grass and stepped on while playing.
To best ensure safety remember:
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NEVER ignite fireworks during high winds.
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NEVER aim or throw fireworks at another person.
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NEVER try to re-ignite fireworks that malfunction or fail to go off.
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DO NOT wear loose clothing when using fireworks.
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NEVER experiment or make your own fireworks.
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NEVER carry fireworks in your pocket.
For more information on fireworks safety, visit the:
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If you are in possession of illegal fireworks
Contact the PWC Fire Marshal's Office to dispose illegal fireworks at 703-792-6360. DO NOT throw them in the garbage! Turning them in will NOT result in any fines or summons, and NO questions will be asked.
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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has advised beginning on or about Tuesday, June 14, for approximately six days, I-66 East between Route 29 in Gainesville and Route 29 in Centreville will be reduced to three travel lanes with the left lane (HOV lane) closed around-the-clock. Note, this is a change from the previously announced start date of June 7. | |
The multi-day closure will allow crews to work more efficiently in paving this section of the future Express Lanes and will reduce the traffic impacts of additional paving during the coming months. Three travel lanes will remain open in this section during peak travel periods. | |
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Stay Informed
As work nears, VDOT will provide more detailed information about the upcoming lane closures through project email updates (sign up here), the project website Transform66.org, and @VaDOTNOVA on Twitter. Travelers can find the latest traffic conditions at 511virginia.org.
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Ready to get out and enjoy the outdoors? You'll find something for every member of your household at Visit PWC Outdoor Online Resource webpage. There's hiking, paddle boarding, golfing, horseback riding – just to name a few. To make is easy, activities are grouped by interest. Visitors can go hard with an intense ride around the BMX track or relax with a leisurely paddle along Occoquan River. From thrill-seekers to leisure-travelers, PWC has an experience waiting just for you. | |
Library Resource for Summer | | |
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When planning your Summer, be sure and check-out the PWC Public Libraries online Summer 2022 magazine, Explore. It is full of great activities and special events for all ages! You can also pick up a short version of the magazine at any of the open library branches or browse the Online Events Calendar to register and learn more about upcoming events. | |
PWC School First to Receive Designation | |
The National Alternative Education Association (NAEA) named Independence Nontraditional School as the first school to be designated an Exemplary Practices Model. The school received this honor based on its utilization and implementation of the NAEA’s exemplary practices to develop a model for other nontraditional schools within this country. The practices are woven into the school’s foundation, most notably its vision: We develop integrity, intellect, and ingenuity in everyone. Guided by this vision, staff work to develop individualized plans and offer streamlined support that ultimately better help foster student success. Independence will be recognized at the NAEA national conference in St. Louis, Missouri in October. | |
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. | | | | | |
