The CDC Community Level Tool dated Thursday, September 8, showed COVID-19 community level for Prince William County and the City of Manassas continued to be low, while the City of Manassas Park was medium. You can check the community levels in other areas here. 

Commended Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (NVSO) for 40 years of service. In the first year of its existence, approximately 200 seniors participated in the NVSO. Over the years, that number has multiplied with an estimated 800 registered participants scheduled to compete in this year. NVSO offers adults, ages 50 and older, opportunities to engage in competition, build self-confidence, and fellowship with their peers through recreational physical activities, competitive athletics, and non-physical games. It also promotes a year-round desire for healthy living, fitness, self-improvement, and achievement in senior adults.

Proclaimed September National Preparedness Month in Prince William County, a time designated every year to raise awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness and to encourage all residents, business owners, and employees to prepare for disasters in their homes, businesses, and neighborhoods. The 2022 theme, A Lasting Legacy, encourages everyone to protect the life they’ve built by preparing for disasters. Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility, and every resident, family, and business should take steps to be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours after a major emergency or disaster.

Proclaimed September 15 through October 15 Hispanic Heritage Month in Prince William County. Every year, U.S. Congress authorizes the President to issue a proclamation designating the month to celebrate how the achievements of Hispanics throughout the United States have enriched the country’s culture and society. As a community, Hispanics are an example of a community of faith with strong family values, hard work ethic, and patriotism. Hispanics have made innumerable contributions as leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, musicians, artists, athletes, scientists, public servants, elected officials, diplomats, teachers, law enforcement officers, engineers, astronauts, and members of the nation’s armed forces.

In August, PWC was honored with several 2022 Achieviment Awards by the Virginia Associations of Counties (VACo). The County's Early Diversion Program in Domestic Violence Cases (read submission) program earned the Best Large County Achievement Award. The Northern Virginia Bioscience Center (read submission) earned an Achievement Award. The Northern Virginia Critical Incident Response Team (read submission), which was submitted by PWC, also earned an Achievement Award.

The PWC Planning Office has republished the Pathway to 2040: Comprehensive Plan Update August 2022 Mobility Chapter draft.  The Mobility Chapter, Roadway Plan Updated September 2022 draft now includes a map of the Roadway Plan (page 22) and associated tables describing the proposed roads. 

Saturday, September 24, from 9:00 to 2:00 pm (rain date, Saturday, October 1), Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition (PWTSC) is holding its 13th Annual Upper Occoquan River Cleanup. The event will include nine different sites along more than 25 miles of the Occoquan River, ranging from Cedar Run/Broad Run through Lake Jackson and from the base of Lake Jackson Dam to Hooes Run, south of Lake Ridge Marina. People who are interested in helping, can register for water or land cleanup.

The PWC Arts Council has announce that the BOCS reopened the grant cycle for a second round of grants in support of the arts for fiscal year 2023. All nonprofit organizations in arts education, community arts, dance, electronic media, festivals, folk arts, literature, minority arts, music, theatre, and visual arts across the greater Prince William, City of Manassas and City of Manassas Park, are encouraged to apply. The grant application deadline is 5:00 pm Friday, September 16. 

The Bull Run Library is reopening Monday, September 12, at 10:00 am. The 25,000 square-foot building renovations included a new Makerspace (issue 90), additional study room, updated children and young adult areas, new dedicated tween area, open floor plan, and new furniture.

The Haymarket Gainesville Library demolition of the existing heating and cooling system is 90% complete and electrical work has begun. Currently, the project is on track to have the new system functioning this coming October. The library remains open during the system replacement.

Saturday, September 24, and Sunday September 25, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, PWC's Tank Farm is holding an Open House and hosting the Americans in Wartime Experience. Located at 13906 Aden Road in Bristow, the Tank Farm will have 50 vehicles on display, an additional dozen that will be demonstrated, and over a hundred living historians who will bring the event to life. The event will also include K9 demonstrations, children’s activities, food vendors, flame thrower demonstrations, and more. You can get a taste of the Americans in Wartime Experience in the video below and register for the event here.

Saturday, September 24, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, come out to the Brenstville Courthouse Historic Centre for Strange Tales Campfire. You'll roast s'mores and hear tales of unusual happenings and strange sights in PWC. Whether it’s monsters in the woods of Independent Hill, unknown lights in the sky near Manassas, or a logger’s lament in the Bull Run Mountains, these stories are a bit outside the realm of regular ghosts or hauntings. Fee is $5.00 and children under 6 are free. Register to attend here.

Thanks to a new scholarship program supported by the Prince William Parks Foundation (issue 117), 103 children had the chance to experience summer camp. The scholarships were awarded through the Count Me In Scholarship Program (issue 117), a partnership between the Foundation and the PWC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. The needs-based scholarship awards were made possible thanks to the generous donations from individuals, corporations, and the Hylton Foundation.