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Issue 163
Friday, May 5, 2023
Prince William County
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Dear Neighbors,
We've turned another page of the calendar and entered into May. Each year, the beginning of Spring coincides with the always busy budget cycle. With the Board's Budget Adoption last week, things seem just a little less hectic. A little less deadline driven.
Spring is a beautiful time of year. You can almost feel Mother Nature shaking off the chill of Winter. Our previously stark landscape becomes glorious with color. Trees have leafed out, flowers are blooming, and the grass is a vibrant green.
Living in the Mid-Atlantic, we know the full heat of Summer isn't far away. While each season brings its own unique wonder, let's all take some time to enjoy the moderate temperatures of this last full month of Spring and everything Prince William County offers us outside.
In Service,
Chair Ann Wheeler
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Monday, May 1, Chair Wheeler participated in the Swearing-in Ceremony of PWC Fire and Rescue Chief Thomas LaBelle (County News issue 159). PWC Executive Christopher Shorter (right photo center) also spoke. | |
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“It is my honor to offer congratulations to Mr. LaBelle for his appointment as the new Fire and Rescue Chief. I am honored to be standing before you, and I want to extend my warmest congratulations on behalf of the entire Prince William County community. Your coming to this role is a testament to your hard work, dedication and commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our community. Your passion for your work, your attention to detail and your ability to inspire others are sure to make a significant impact on our community. I have no doubt that you are more than capable of meeting these demands and that you will do so with enthusiasm and professionalism.”
Ann Wheeler
Chair At-Large Board of County supervisors
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Monday, May 1, Chair Wheeler spoke at the Virginia Department of Transportation Commonwealth Transportation Board's (CTB) Northern Virginia Joint Transportation Meeting. The Chair provided remarks on behalf of PWC on the Commonwealth’s Six-Year Improvement Program (County News issue 162). | |
Wednesday, May 3, Chair Wheeler attended a meet and greet hosted by the new Gainesville-Manassas Alumni Chapter (GMAC) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. During the event, Eric L. Brown (center photo), Polemarch of the chapter, addressed the group. GMAC is part of the Eastern Province, a defined region of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. that traces its origin to 1925. It encompasses the state of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as the island of Bermuda. GMAC is the second Kappa Alpha Psi alumni chapter in PWC, the first being in Woodbridge. | |
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"GMAC’s primary purpose in the Greater Gainesville, Haymarket, Manassas, Manassas City, and Manassas Park area is to connect and partner with community agencies and organizations and understand the diverse and unique needs so we can positively contribute and make an impact. With our intentional investment in serving our community, our goal is to build bridges of hope, trust, and a stronger, more resilient community for all.
Through partnerships, we promise to impact the communities by connecting with schools, healthcare organizations, locally owned businesses, and many other non-profit organizations. However, the most critical mission is to help uplift people of all ages and dimensions of diversity in our community. We believe that GMAC’s mission and goals share many interlinking commonalities with other local agencies and organizations."
Eric L. Brown
Polemarch, Gainesville-Manassas (VA) Alumni Chapter
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Tuesday, May 9
2:00 pm
For Public Comment Time options visit SpeakUp! Prince William. Remote speakers must sign up by 5:00 pm on Monday, May 8. In-person speakers can sign up at the meeting.
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Addressing a National Crisis | | |
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Tuesday, May 9 is Fentanyl Awareness Day to raise awareness of the dangers of opioids such as fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. The day is part of National Prevention Week, held May 7 through 13 to provide educational opportunities where communities work toward preventing substance abuse and helping people achieve positive mental health. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, in the U.S. fentanyl is involved in more deaths among people under 50 than cancer, heart disease, suicide, homicide, and accidents. | |
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PWC Community Services:
- Is offering virtual REVIVE-Opioid Overdose Recognition and Response Training on Sunday, May 7, Tuesday, May 9, and Thursday, May 11.
- Is partnering with the Prevention Coalition of Greater Prince William to host a Prevention Planning Day at McCoart Government Center in Woodbridge, Powells Creek A & B, on Wednesday, May 10, 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
- Staff are available every week to dispense naloxone and discuss community prevention, treatment and recovery resources Mondays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, in the Sudley North Government Center in Manassas and Wednesdays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, in the Ferlazzo Building in Woodbridge.
- Provides free fentanyl test strips so people who are using can test their drugs for the presence of fentanyl.
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Twelve Actions will be Prioritized
You can review the draft action lists here, which includes 65 actions for greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy and climate adaptation and resiliency. The actions are categorized into electricity, buildings, infrastructure, transportation, natural resources, community, agriculture, and waste sectors.
To Participate in the Virtual Town Hall
Please register for the Virtual Town Hall here. If you would like to speak during the Town Hall, indicate on the registration form and login 30 minutes prior to the event to get set up. You will have three minutes to share which actions you believe should be a priority and why.
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Starting Saturday, May 20, residents of PWC, Manassas and Manassas Park will be able to access the most popular services provided by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office through its new Seals on Wheels program. Thanks to a partnership with the PWC Public Libraries, the public can file marriage license applications, notary applications, concealed handgun permits, and much more at the fully mobile service center. Seals on Wheels Tour will launch at the Dumfries Library and continue rolling though the jurisdiction with stops at seven libraries. You can learn more about the program here. | |
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Seals on Wheels Saturday Services Tour Dates – 2023
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May 20: Potomac District – Dumfries Library
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June 24: Woodbridge District – Dale City Library
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July 22: Neabsco District – Potomac Library
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August 26: Gainesville District – Haymarket Gainesville Library
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September 30: Coles District – Independent Hill Library
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October 14: Brentsville District – Nokesville Library
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October 21: Occoquan District – Chinn Library
The program will soon add dates in Manassas and Manassas Park.
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Screening System Approved | | |
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At its May 3 meeting, the PWC School Board voted unanimously to authorize the four-year subscription of the Evolv weapons detection systems (County News issue 152) at all middle, high, and nontraditional Schools. Funding for the entirety of the Evolv Express systems, including associated costs and the anticipated stipend for staff monitoring, has already been allocated in the FY 2024 School Budget. The Evolv system has been implemented in over 500 schools in the U.S. and is used at the Pentagon, the Smithsonian Museum, and at more than 30 professional sports venues and amusement parks. | |
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Next Steps
PWC Schools will now establish an implementation committee to develop comprehensive communication, training, and implementation plans. The systems will arrive during the last week in August through the end of September, with installation at seven schools per week until completion at all middle, high, and nontraditional schools in the division.
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Registration is open for PWC's 2023 Bike to Work Day, an annual event held this year on Friday, May 19, 6:00 am to 9:30 am (start and end times vary by pit stop). The event will be celebrated at free "pit stops" located throughout PWC. Pre-register by Friday, May 12, for a free t-shirt and bike raffle. Use the hyperlinks below for each pit stop’s details, include start and end times. See Bike to Work Day FAQ's to learn more register to participate here. | |
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Prince William County Pit Stops
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Congratulations to the Prince William 2023 Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk in exceeding its $10,000 goal by raising over $13,000 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The event included an opening ceremony with a memorial tribute to those that have fallen, an honor guard, bagpipes, fire trucks, Boy Scouts, and more. Derek Shifflett Award For Fastest Firefighter In Gear. While the weather wasn't ideal the spirit of all who participated was. Shoutout to Mike Beaty for all the photos below. See more here. | |
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About the Foundation
The foundation was created to honor the heroic life and death of Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who lost his life on September 11, 2001 after strapping on his gear and running through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers. It helps America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to families with young children through its Fallen First Responder and Gold Star home programs. Its Smart Home Program builds specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.
The foundation is also committed to eradicating Veteran Homelessness and its 9/11 Institute™, which includes its 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit, provides educators with valuable 9/11 perspectives and resources to inform all ages about 9/11, but especially those born after that day. Learn about the impact the foundation has made here.
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Congratulations also goes to Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department Junior Member Andrew Sager who took first place as the fastest Firefighter in full gear. He was presented with the Derek Shifflett Award for Top Firefighter in Gear plaque for finishing the race in under 35 minutes! The Shifflett family selected Tunnel to Towers for donations in lieu of flowers at his memorial last fall (Chair's Calendar Celebration of Life issue 137). | |
Sunday, May 7, 3:00 am to 4:00 pm, the U.S. Navy Band Commodores is giving a free and open to the public concert at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle. The Navy's premier jazz ensemble has been performing the best of big band jazz for the Navy and the nation for 50 years. The 18-member group continues the jazz big band legacy with some of the finest musicians in the world. The Summer Concerts are held outdoors on the National Museum of the Marine Corps' entry plaza, weather permitting. Lawn chairs and/or blankets are encouraged. | |
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While you are at the museum, check out the Classic Car Show. It starts at 11:00 am and runs to 4:00 pm and will feature cars from 1979 and older. In addition, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm there will be outdoor concessions and cigar vendor Syr's Rolling Cigar Vault, owned by Syr Gonyea, Marine and retired Law Enforcement Officer. | | | |
Fantastic Upcoming Season | |
Special Historical Offering | | |
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Once a month this summer, local historians will host a special walking tour of historic towns in PWC. This month's PWC Office of Historic Preservation's walking tour is Friday, May 19, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at Buckhall, a small community where visitors can still view a cemetery, as well as the exteriors of a one-room schoolhouse and the building that once held the “Buckhall Mall.” Learn more and pre-register for this free program here. | |
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COVID-19
How to Get Vaccinated (including boosters):
How to get tested:
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PWC
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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. | | | | |
