Thursday (July 3)

• Teen Pocky and KitKat Taste Test, 2 to 3 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)

Friday (July 4)

• Celebrate America, 3 to 10 p.m. (Manassas City)

July 7

• Mini Mandalas, 2 to 3 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• Teen Bunny Cuddle, 4 to 5 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• A Dicey Affair, 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• Summer Scares Book Tasting, 6 to 7 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)

July 8

• Bugman, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Hawaiiana, 10:30 to 11::30 a.m. (Central Library)
• Animal Therapy Petting Zoo, 11 a.m. to noon (Potomac Library)
• Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
• DIY Soapmaking for Teens, 2 to 3:30 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• TAG Makers – Summer Edition, 5:30 to 7 p.m. (Central Library)
• Manassas City School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
• Acoustic Tuesday (Enslow Duo), 7 p.m.

July 9

• Friends Book Sorting, 1 to 3 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• CASA Health Navigators, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• Miniature Painting Sessions, 5:30 to 7 p.m. (Potomac Library)

July 10

• Sidewalk Chalk Day, 10:30 a.m. to noon (Central Library)

July 11

• BUG Fest, 10:30 a.m. to noon (Central Library)
• Fascinating Fossil, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)

July 12

• Tiny Art, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Dale City Library)
• Beautiful Binding Basics, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Manassas City Library)
• Latin American Artisans & Entrepreneurs Expo, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Manassas City)
• Swift Escape, 1 to 2 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Drawing 101, 1 to 3 p.m. (Central Library)
• Murder Mystery, 2 to 4 p.m. (Potomac Library)

July 13

• NVA Thai Street Food & Culture Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Manassas City)

July 14

• Paper Clip Washi Jewelry Take and Make, All day (Dumfries Library)
• Winnie-the-Pooh, 2 to 3 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Stuffie Taxidermy, 2:30 to 4 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

July 15

• 8-Bit Art with Perler Beads, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
• Murder Mystery: Teen Edition, 2 to 3 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Ransom Note Bookmarks, 2 to 7 p.m. (Central Library)
• Acoustic Tuesday (Kevin Koa), 7 p.m.

July 16

• Retro Horror Movie Night, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)

July 17

• Cryptid Party, 2 to 3 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)

July 19

• Kinderquarium, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Ghost Talk with Old Spirit Investigations, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Central Library)
• Twilight Trek, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)

July 21

• Melodic Adventures: Our Colorful World of Feelings, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Potomac Library)
• Once Upon a Crime, 2 to 3 p.m. (Montclair Library)

July 22

• Wildlife Center of VA, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Central Library)
• Cup of Cozy Mysteries, 11 a.m. to noon (Nokesville Library)
• Manassas City School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
• Acoustic Tuesday (Grayson Moon Duo), 7 p.m.

July 23

• Not Just a Pretty Face, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Potomac Library)

July 24

• Alcohol Ink Art Night, 2 to 4 p.m. (Central Library)

July 26

• Circuit Court Clerk’s Seals on Wheels, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• Murder Mystery, 11 a.m. to noon (Lake Ridge Library)
• Nature’s Palette, 2 to 3 p.m. (Potomac Library)

July 27

• International Food & Culture Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Manassas City)

July 28

• Pipecleaner Dragonfly, All day (Dumfries Library)
• Teen Stipple Art, 2 to 3 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
• Books Alive, 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Virtual)

July 29

• Halloween in July Story Trail, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
• Manassas City School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
• Acoustic Tuesday (Shane Gamble), 7 p.m.

July 31

• Intro to Glass Fusing, 2 to 4 p.m. (Central Library)

According to a concept plan document from 2024, the goal of the Innovation District — placed around the GMU SciTech Campus — is to connect jurisdictions and industry to create "lasting benefits for the community."

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Throughout a tight budget cycle, the Board was unsure if they would be able to fund a 5.5% salary increase due to budget constraints from both City Council and the Commonwealth. Many Board members had expressed a desire for a 7% salary increase to match other neighboring jurisdictions.

Prince William County Schools, for example, came to an agreement with the Prince William Education Association for a historic $160 million investment over a two-year period. This results in a 7% wage increase in fiscal year 2026.

Taft Kelly, MCPS’ director of finance, initially proposed that the Board implement salary lapses, which would replace retiring and more experienced staff with higher salaries with younger, less experienced staff members. Kelly, in previous meetings, said MCPS could save nearly $975,000.

With the approval of City Council‘s budget on June 9, MCPS was given an additional $1.7 million for the fiscal year, enabling the Board to provide a more than 5% increase over fiscal year 2025.

“In keeping with your list of priorities, we would like to use additional funding to compensate our employees,” he said. “We asked for $1.7 million to increase [salaries]. Obviously, we did not get that full amount, and so the amount that we are able to do is 1.2%.”

In total, MCPS is providing a 7% increase in staff salaries. New contracts, according to Kelly at an early June MCPS Board meeting, will be sent to staff before the end of July and early August with updated staff scales and salaries.

“I earned my barber license while incarcerated at Haynesville Correctional Center. That program changed my life — it gave me more than just a trade; it gave me a vision of who I could become,” Carey said. “When I was released in 2014, I didn’t just walk out with a record — I walked out with a barber license and a new sense of direction.”

Carey, founder and owner of Faded & Co. Barbershop and CEO of the F.A.D.E.D. Foundation in Fredericksburg, was inspired by his own story to begin a home for second-chance advocacy for those released from incarceration.

“I didn’t read about the system — I lived through it. I know what it feels like to be counted out, to walk through life with a label that makes people look at you sideways before they hear your name. But I also know what it feels like to find purpose, to earn a skill and to rebuild your life one day at a time,” Carey said. “… I saw firsthand how a trade could restore dignity, how mentorship could change your mindset, and how someone believing in you could shift everything.”

The founder said he specifically chose barbering as the vocational focus because the skills learned in the trade extend further than the chair.

“Beyond the clippers and fades, barbering teaches discipline, communication and consistency. It turns clients into conversations, and chairs into counseling sessions,” Carey said. “It’s a career with dignity; one that allows people to rebuild not only their own lives, but also uplift others along the way.”

Following the opening of the barbershop in 2016, Carey decided to launch a new aspect of Faded: a nonprofit and barbershop academy, which would offer scholarships, barber kits and mentorship, in 2020.

“When I came home and opened Faded & Co., I knew it had to be more than a barbershop. It had to be a safe space — a launchpad for others walking the same path I did. Starting the F.A.D.E.D Foundation was about giving structure to that mission: creating real opportunities for returning citizens to thrive, not just survive,” Carey said.

Carey said F.A.D.E.D. provides full or partial scholarships for tuition, professional barber kits, mentorship and life coaching, job readiness training, transportation assistance, community engagement opportunities and mental health/emotional support referrals.

The academy has three tiers, all of which are approved by the Commonwealth’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. The academy tiers include the Barber I program, which requires 1,100 hours of school training; the Master Barber program, which requires an additional 400 hours of school training, and people are eligible following the Barber I program; and the Dual Barber/Master Barber program, which is a 1,500-hour program.

“The program is designed not just to teach a trade, but to transform a life. We focus on accountability, consistency, and connection. Graduates don’t just leave with a license; they leave with a renewed mindset, a support system and the tools to thrive as professionals and contributors to their community,” Carey said.

A graduate from the program, who chose to stay anonymous, said they were not expecting to learn as much as they did from the academy.

“Initially, I expected to just learn how to complete a haircut from beginning to end. Over time, I realized that I needed to have patience with myself and to trust that everything I’d encounter was a part of the process to professionalism, as I learned everything about barbering from the history, chemistry, safety and laws of barbering,” they said.

The graduate said they had to learn to “get out of their own way” to allow themselves to grow while going through the program; but, ultimately, they learned this is an important way to invest in your future.

“Don’t hesitate to invest in yourself and take a chance at a life-changing opportunity that will help you build character, confidence and a purposeful position that will grant you great fulfillment through the action of satisfying others’ needs,” he said.

Carey said he wished more people understood that formerly incarcerated individuals are not lost causes, and this is oftentimes their first fair shot in life.

“They grew up in broken systems, faced trauma early, lacked access to education or were surrounded by environments that pushed survival over success,” Carey acknowledged. “But that doesn’t mean they’re beyond redemption. What they need isn’t judgment — it’s opportunity, guidance and belief.

“They’re not hopeless. They’re hungry. Hungry for change, for stability, for purpose,” Carey continued. “And when we meet them with that understanding, we don’t just change their lives — we change the world around them.”

Welcome back to a Potomac Local News series, “Meet Prince William.”

We’ve started this series so Prince William County residents can get to know the important people working behind the scenes to make the county run smoothly and efficiently. This is an opportunity to learn from experts on the county. Potomac Local has asked each leader the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below.

Today, get to know Mandi Spina, the director of the Department of Development Services for 1.5 years. Spina has been with Prince William County since 2013, and was acting director of the department for eight months before being appointed to the position.

How have your previous roles prepared you for your current role as Director of Development Services?

Having parents who raised me to focus on community and being a servant leader, working in local government came natural as a path for my professional life. I recently celebrated my 12th anniversary with Prince William County, 10.5 of those years being with the Department of Development Services.

Throughout my tenure in the Department, I have gained a deep understanding and appreciation for the collaborative approach Prince William County takes when making meaningful process improvements. As Director of Development Services, I have had the unique perspective of watching the department grow over the past 12 years, ensuring that we honor our core values and mission to serve the residents and businesses of Prince William County.

If there’s one thing you’d like the community to understand about the development process in Prince William County, what would it be?

Prince William County’s development process is a highly collaborative and interwoven process that involves multiple county departments and outside agencies, such as the Virginia Department of Transportation and Prince William Water. The Department of Development Services serves as the lead agency for development and plays a central role in coordinating how development projects move throughout the development process.

DDS ensures compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code by reviewing commercial and residential construction plans, issuing permits, inspecting structures and enforcing building code requirements. DDS also manages the site and subdivision plan review and permit issuance process and administers the posting and release of bonds and escrows, while also issuing zoning approvals.

What do you consider to be the most pressing development challenges facing Prince William County today, and how does your department plan to address them?

One of the most pressing challenges is the cost of development, not just in Prince William County, but nationally. As Prince William County continues to grow and expand its commercial development base, ensuring that we have streamlined processes is critical to ensuring timely and cost-effective services. The Department of Development Services plans to address this challenge by ensuring that we continue to identify and implement process improvements as well as continuing stakeholder engagement regarding our processes.

Ensuring that we are identifying and implementing process improvements is critical. We carefully monitor workload trends to ensure we are making the necessary staffing decisions. We also ensure the services we provide are beneficial to our ever-changing customer base who prefer options for both in-person and virtual services.

How do partnerships — with other county departments, developers, environmental groups and the broader community — support the goals of Development Services?

I’m often reminded of the quote by Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

A true partnership approach is critical to a successful development process, not only with other county departments, but also with state agencies, developers, contractors and homeowners, as well. The more we work together, the better our processes become, as we are all working towards the same goal. Development Services is founded on partnership, serving as the Staff Liaison for the Commercial Development Committee, which is an industry-led advisory committee focused on streamlining commercial development processes.

One of the most meaningful parts of being the Director of Development Services is seeing the collaboration unfold in real-time. We truly live the county’s “Leadership at all Levels” value, ensuring that all voices and ideas are heard.

What improvements or innovations has your department introduced recently to enhance efficiency in permitting, inspections, or plan reviews?

Development Services launched key efficiencies over the last year, to include the initiatives below. You can also follow our public facing PWC Works platform, which features a Permitting Improvements Project encompassing the various projects within Development Services.

We are also currently underway with a review of recommended permitting process improvements provided by the Chamber of Commerce, showcasing our commitment to collaboration and a partnership approach.

• SolarApp+ – Launched in October 2024, SolarApp+ is a system designed to automate the residential solar permitting process to create a more efficient process and better experience for residents installing residential solar. SolarApp+ features an integrated web portal that allows approved contractors to submit their projects through the SolarApp+ system, which then checks for jurisdiction-required criteria and issues a same-day permit.
• ePortal Customer Document Upload – This process improvement allows customers to view all uploaded building development documents in real time.
• Inspection Timeframe Email – This process improvement allows customers to receive an automated email the morning of their scheduled building inspection, noting the two-hour timeframe their inspector will arrive. Customers will also have the ability to call the Inspections Office and check ePortal for their scheduled timeframe, as well.
• Owner Notification of Permits – This process improvement went live in May 2024, allowing property owners to voluntarily receive permit activity updates.
• Quality Control Improvements – This process improvement reduced quality control review times from 3-5 business days down to 1-2 business days, saving time in the permitting process.

The development, The Flats at Westminster, will be next to Rockledge Elementary School at the intersection of Clipper Drive and Mariner Lane in Occoquan. The developer proposed 24 units in a residential community, with an estimated 36 total residents, according to the staff report.

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Lewis, since the beginning of 2024, has faced medical struggles associated with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, FND is a condition that is caused by changes in how brain networks work rather than changes in the brain's physical structure.

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Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) employees may get an additional 1.5% salary increase for the 2025-2026 school year, pending School Board approval on June 24.

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At the Monday night meeting, Manassas City Council unanimously approved its fiscal year 2026 budget, totaling more than $512 million and following months of meetings.

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Monday (June 2)

• Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday (June 3)

• Lifelong Learning with Yorkshire Volunteer Fire & Rescue, 1 p.m. (Central Library)
• Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
• Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Chesapeake Sons), 7 p.m.

Wednesday (June 4)

• Friends Book Sorting, 1 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• The (Plant) Stakes are High, 5 p.m. (Central Library)
• Prince William School Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Friday (June 6)

• Manassas City First Friday, 6 p.m.

Saturday (June 7)

• Fishing Derby, 7:30 a.m. (Triangle)
• 31st Annual Manassas Railway Festival, 9 a.m.
• Circuit Court Clerks Seals on Wheels, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Occoquan)
• Puzzling with a Purpose, 12:30 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• The Road to College, 1 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Zine Club, 1:30 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)

June 9

• Meet and Make: Summer Tote Bags, 1 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

June 10

• Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
• Manassas School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
• Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Natalie Brooke), 7 p.m.

June 11

• Bugman, 3 p.m. (Manassas City Library)

June 12

• Chinn Chats, 1 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Summertime Mocktails, 6:30 p.m. (Virtual)

June 13

• Make a Book Flower Bouquet, 2 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• “Lend Me a Soprano,” various times until June 22 (Manassas City)
• Fireflies and the Full Moon, 7:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)
• Family Movie in the Park: “Captain America,” 8:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)

June 14

• Menopause Cafe, 10 a.m. (Dale City Library)
• Creating Butterfly Origami, 10 a.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Wonder Wanders: Story Time Hike and Craft, 10 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)
• Third Annual Puerto Rican Festival, 11 a.m. (Manassas City)
• Crafting with Pride, 11 a.m. (Dumfries Library)
• Beautiful Binding Basics, 11 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)
• Drawing 101, 1 p.m. (Central Library)

June 16

• Animal Therapy Petting Zoo, 11 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)
• Friendship Pins, 2 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• Once Upon a Crime, 2 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Manassas City Council Work Session, 5:30 p.m.
• Gardening Book Club, 5:30 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• FROGbots Robotics Demonstration, 5:30 p.m. (Montclair Library)

June 17

• Rock Painting, 1 p.m. (Dale City Library)
• Mythology in Modern Day with REscape Rooms, 4 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Tween Summertime Art Workshop, 5:30 p.m. (Central Library)
• Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Shane Gamble), 7 p.m.

June 18

• Crochet and Coffee, 11 a.m. (Nokesville Library)
• Peaceful Painting, 2 p.m. (Manassas City Library)
• DIY Pride Keychains, 5 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Perler Bead Cup Covers, 5 p.m. (Potomac Library)

June 19

• Juneteenth & Me Festival, 4 to 9:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)

June 20

• Play All Day VA, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Manassas)
• Native American Mythology with Star Lab, 10 a.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Animal Therapy Petting Zoo, 11 a.m. (Manassas City Library)
• Bull Run Ukulele Players, 1 p.m. (Bull Run Library)
• Family Movie Night, 7:30 p.m. (Nokesville Library)

June 21

• Manassas Bee Festival, 10 a.m.
• Teen Quilt Morning Series, 10:30 a.m. (Central Library)
• Make Your Own Stamps, 11 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Gardening in Colonial Times, 11 a.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Murder Mystery, 2 p.m. (Central Library)

June 23

• Twin Pattern Stamp Take and Make, All day (Dumfries Library)
• Creepy Crawly Critters, 10:30 a.m. (Potomac Library)
• Pigeon Appreciation Day, 10:30 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
• Deputies in Flight, 2 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

June 24

• Bookmaking, 10:30 a.m. (Potomac Library)
• Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
• Beginner Sourdough, 5:30 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Manassas School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
• Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Jason Masi), 7 p.m.

June 26

• Tech in Color, 10:30 a.m. (Nokesville Library)
• Reptile World, 10:30 a.m. (Triangle)
• Water Bead Splatter Art, 11 a.m. (Dumfries Library)
• Kindergarten Camp, 1 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)

June 27

• Creepy Crawly Critters, 10:30 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
• Wine Glass Etching, 11 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
• “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” 7 p.m. (Manassas City)

June 28

• Ident-a-Child, 10 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Swift Escape with REscape Rooms, 11 a.m. (Lake Ridge Library)
• Rodney’s Raptors, 11 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” 2 and 7 p.m. (Manassas City)

June 30

• Marines Through History, 10:30 a.m. (Nokesville Library)
• Deputies in Flight, 2 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Peace and Self-Exploration, 6 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Books Alive, 6 p.m. (Virtual)