Issue 160

Friday, April 14, 2023

Prince William County

Dear Neighbors,

This week's The Wheeler Report is full of great information. While I hope you find all of the articles informative, I would like to put a little spotlight on two of them.

In the Chair's Calendar section, you'll see this week I attended a ribbon-cutting event hosted at one of our schools by Amazon Web Services (AWS). During the event AWS donated a book vending machine to the school. The students, who earn tokens to be able to get a book and keep it, were really excited about this - even more so than candy in a vending machine. I like to think that it’s “making books cool again.”

In the County News section there is an upcoming Community Open House hosted by the data center rezoning applicant QTS within the Digital Gateway. County staff estimates (pages 16-17) data centers in the Digital Gateway will generate over $400 million in new annual tax revenue, which could assist us in reducing residential tax burdens while funding strategic plan goals in support of parks, schools, transportation, and affordable housing solutions.

In Service,

Chair Ann Wheeler

Tuesday, April 11, Chair Wheeler toured the PWC Department of Public Safety Communications (Department Tour and Talk issue 102). These "First of the First" emergency responders are there for the residents of PWC every hour of every day and should be celebrated not just now, during National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week, but everyday. The Federal Communications Commission was also in attendance and toured the PWC Department of Public Safety Communications alongside Chair Wheeler.

Wednesday, April 12, Chair Wheeler hosted her Second Annual Iftar Dinner in celebration of the holy month of Ramadan. Special guest speakers included PWC County Executive Chris Shorter (bottom right photo), Office of Equity and Inclusion Officer Maria Burgos (top right photo), and Human Resources Director at Islamic Relief USA and Muslim Center of Virginia Board President Sister Khadija Athman (bottom left photo). Supervisor Andrea Bailey, Director of Finance and CFO Michelle Attreed, Chief of Police Peter Newsham, Superintendent of Schools Dr. LaTanya D. McDade, and Commonwealth's Attorney Amy Ashworth (top left photo left to right with Khadija Athman).

Thursday, April 14, Chair Wheeler spoke at a celebration and ribbon-cutting of the remodeled AWS Think Big Space at River Oaks Elementary School. At the event they donated a book vending machine to the school. A special shout out to Maurice Hines (bottom center photo), one of PWC School system's Elementary School Community Safety Officer.

Proclaimed April Month of the Military Child to recognize their often unsung sacrifices and important contributions. Whether it’s enduring deployments, reintegrating into new states and countries, caring for wounded warrior parents, or coping with the loss of a fallen parent, the military child remains resilient and strong, and exemplifies an amazing capacity to adapt.

Proclaimed April 16 through April 22, National Volunteer Week to recognize and thank all of our dedicated volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice, and support to causes they care about and urge all residents to consider volunteering. Volunteer participation increases the number who are touched by quality-of-life services and programs

Proclaimed April 23 through April 29, Crime Victims' Rights Week and ensuring they are offered accessible, appropriate, and trauma-informed services. Through the unwavering support of communities and victim service providers, survivors are empowered to face their grief, loss, fear, anger, and hope without fear of judgment, and will understood, heard, and respected.

Senior Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Marcia Payne accepted the proclamation.

An undated photo of the Hoadly Post Office and Davis’ general store, provided to Prince William County by a descendant of the Davis family. 

Saturday, April 22, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, PWC Public Libraries is hosting a Spring Festival on Central Green. Explore this outdoor library space and celebrate spring and Earth Day with nature and conservation activities. Enjoy a pollinator garden, read a story along the story trail, check the wind's speed on the windmill, explore the weather station, and receive a free native tree sapling. Make sure to check Central Green's new bench made from recycled plastic bags (County Kudos issue 159)

These ordinances authorize and initiate a one-year Automated Traffic Enforcement Pilot Program in select areas through August 2024. The Board also budgeted and appropriated $850,000 in Recordation Tax designated for Transportation to fund the pilot program. More information about the pilot program will be shared in future issues prior to becoming operational.

The White House Farm Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation based in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. An educational foundation with a focus on the conservation of local natural resources to in turn protect our global ecosystem. We care about living more sustainably and using natural resources wisely. It owns and manages Leopold's Preserve (County Happenings issue 109), a 380 acre nature conservancy in Haymarket. 

Saturday, April 22, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, the PWC Police Department, the Manassas City Police Department, and the Haymarket Town Police Department are joining the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and community groups are participating in the nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back" Day, so you can dispose of unused or expired medications in a safe and legal way.

Thursday, April 20 through Sunday, April 23, the Spring Carnival is back at the Prince William County Fair Grounds. Come out for all the fair favorites like amusement rides, food vendors, and games. Grandstand events will include a demolition derby, tractor pull, motocross motorcycles, and monster trucks.

Saturday, April 22, the first day of National Park Week, all National Parks, including our very own Prince William Forest Park, will be entrance free. The 15,000+ wooded acres are filled with wildlife and more than 300 years of human history, and have 37 miles of hiking trails, over 12 miles of paved roads and 9.2 miles of gravel roads for on and off-road cycling, 18 miles of streams and man-made lakes for fishing, and a 60 point orienteering course.

The Park is the largest green space in the DC Metro area and the largest piedmont forest within the National Park Service. You can get a glimpse of some of what it has to offer in the video below. You can also visit the Prince William Forest Park Virtual Museum Exhibit here.