RICHMOND, Va. – When the first Earth Day was held in 1970, it was dedicated to environmental education and increasing public awareness of the Earth. This year, when Virginia State Parks celebrates the Earth Day weekend of April 21-22, it will be filled with educational opportunities and family activities as varied as hydroponic gardens, shore-line clean-ups, wagon rides and rummage sales.
Every Virginia State Park will provide special Earth Day activities and programs. For a complete list of all state park Earth Day activities, or search the events section of the Virginia State Parks website.
The award-winning Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
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 EASTER 2012 Â
RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell hosted the state’s first “Governor’s Easter Egg Hunt” at Capitol Square in Richmond. PotomacLocal.com’s KJ Mushung was there to get photos of the event that attracted 1,500 people.
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NEW DEVELOPMENTS
STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. -- Little is known about the suspect authorities in Stafford County say they have in custody following a school bus fire last week.
Stafford fire and rescue spokesman Mark Doyle said late Friday night a juvenile now faces charges in the case of a school bus set ablaze in the parking lot of Ferry Farm Elementary School on March 31.
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 FIRST ON POTOMACLOCAL.COMÂ
STAFFORD, Va. -- Police said five people were taken to a hospital Friday night after being involved in a crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford.
A 2008 Chevrolet Impala was traveling north on I-95 at 5:10 p.m. just past Exit 140, the exit for Va. 630 (Courthouse Road) when the driver attempted to pull into the right shoulder lane. The driver changed his mind and veered back into traffic on the highway, lost control and struck a 2010 Ford Expedition and a 2004 Toyota van that was traveling behind the Expedition in the center lane, said Virginia State Police Sgt. Les Tyler.
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WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- The threat for potential wildfires is up for Saturday.
Humidity is forecast to be between 20 and 30 percent, wind gusts up to 25 mph, and plenty of brush on the ground to fuel a fire, according to the National Weather Service.
A fire watch has been issued for locations in and around the Potomac Communities in Prince William and Stafford counties.
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STAFFORD, Va. -- Following his win on Tuesday over Democratic challenger John “Jac” Starkey, Garrisonville District Supervisor Ty Schieber is sworn in to office by Stafford County Circuit Court Judge Martin Bass.
Schieber has served on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors since January when he was unanimously appointed Interim Supervisors following the resignation of Delegate Mark Dudenhefer, R-Stafford, Woodbridge. Dudenhefer served as the Garrisonville Supervisor from 2005 to 2012, and as Chairman of the Board from 2010 to January 2012.
On Wednesday night inside the Stafford Board Chambers, both Schieber and Starkey shook hands and congratulated each other on their respective campaigns.
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DUMFRIES, Va. — From a doughnut shop in Dumfries, Mark Gibson explains why he’s getting into the race to become the next congressman for the Potomac Communities.
“As a small business owner I have to keep low overhead costs, and I don’t think the federal government is doing that,” said Gibson.
The 51-year-old Independent from Fairfax is collecting signatures to get his name on the ballot for the November General Election. He needs 1,500 before June to be considered in the race.
His opponent is two-term Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly, a man Gibson described as having a good knowledge of how the government works, but also has too many years in office touting the same party line.
“Mr. Connolly is a good foot solider for the party but we don’t need foot soldiers, we need innovation,” said Gibson.
A native of the Washington area, Gibson, 51, lives with his wife, daughter and son – both who are in elementary school in Fairfax County. He’s the chief operating officer of a 15-employee IT firm that does database work for small business.
While the 11th Congressional District he wants to represent had portions of western Fairfax and Prince William counties redistricted away from it, the district still includes much of the Potomac Communities of Dumfries, Lake Ridge, Occoquan and Woodbridge. It’s an area of economic good fortune, he said, with federal jobs aplenty. Gibson said he doesn’t believe in a federal hiring freeze, and added downsizing government would ultimately lead to the loss of federal workers — but it doesn’t all have to happen at once.
“You can lose positions from attrition, and that will lead to more government savings, and over time that means we can pass along pay raises to federal employees,” said Gibson. “The people who come for work for me have gumption. They come in and want to be promoted, and federal workers are no different.”
On Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, Gibson says those who were promised a return on their investments into those systems should be rewarded, but added that those who have not yet reached retirement age will most likely have to wait longer to receive benefits.
A one-time Democrat, Gibson said he attended a meeting of Dems in Fairfax County but later felt the caucus was more about business as usual than bringing about change, which is why he said he’s running as an Independent.
Aside from Connolly, he faces proclaimed fiscal conservative Ken Vaughn and likely Republican nominee Chris Perkins.
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Over the past few weeks, chemical bottle bombs have become an increasing problem in Prince William County. There have been a number of occurrences in the Lake Ridge area beginning on March 18 and April 1 on Kempston Lane and April 5 on Berwick Place. The Fire Marshal’s Office and Prince William Police are working together to investigate, apprehend and prosecute those individuals responsible for these deadly devices.
Due to the corrosive nature of the mixture, anyone coming in contact with the materials while manufacturing or discharging the device can sustain serious and long-term debilitating injuries. Permanent injures to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract are common.
The Fire Marshal’s Office and Police Department reminds everyone that individuals involved with the possession, manufacture, or discharge of chemical bottle bombs will face criminal charges for their actions. Additionally, they will be held responsible for costs associated with any property damage, emergency response and mitigation (police, HazMat, fire and rescue), and clean up. Due to the hazardous nature of the residual material, clean- up costs can be substantial.
If a chemical bottle bomb is discovered or suspected in the community, citizens should immediately relocate a safe distance away from the device and call 911 to report it. Under no circumstances should anyone touch or move a suspected device. Further questions or information should be directed to the Fire Marshal’s Office at 703-792-6360.
-Press release
By Alex Wiggins
Capital News Service
RICHMOND, Va. – The lawn around the state Capitol was hopping with about 1,500 egg-collecting children Wednesday as Gov. Bob McDonnell and first lady Maureen McDonnell held Virginia’s first “Governor’s Easter Egg Hunt.”
Just as the U.S. president traditionally opens the White House grounds for an Easter egg roll, the McDonnells invited children to participate in their free event at Capitol Square.
