Potomac Local News, Author at Potomac Local News

Sheriffs Recognize Anderson

Published September 15, 2011 at 3:00PM

Del. Rich Anderson (left) receives the Virginia Sheriffs Association “Legislative Freshman of the Year Award” from Prince William County Sheriff Glendell Hill and Association Executive Director John Jones. (Submitted)

Richmond, Va. – Prince William County Delegate Richard L. Anderson (R-Prince William) was honored on Monday morning in ceremonies in Norfolk, Va., by the Virginia Sheriffs Association at its annual 2011 conference. The event takes place each year and includes the 123 sheriffs from jurisdictions across the state.

Del. Anderson was recognized for his leadership and support of Virginia sheriffs during the 2010 and 2011 legislative sessions of the Virginia General Assembly. The award, known informally as the “Legislative Rookie Award,” is presented by Virginia sheriffs to the freshman legislator who has demonstrated the greatest support with consistency for sheriffs across the Commonwealth in matters of legislation, policy, and appropriations. The last such award was made in 2006.

News

Revolutionary Sacrifices Made on 9/11 and 230 Years Ago

By Potomac Local News

Published September 15, 2011 at 1:20PM

Cedric Leighton

As we remember the thousands lost on 9/11, and the tough, terrible sacrifices made by U.S. service members in the years to follow, 230 years ago people in our area were making terrible sacrifices of their own.

In 1781 the American Revolution was in its sixth year. By this time in September, General George Washington and his French counterpart, General Rochambeau, had just left Mount Vernon for Yorktown, where they hoped to lay siege to British and Hessian forces encamped there.

News

Landslide Growing Larger

By Potomac Local News

Published September 15, 2011 at 12:00PM

A landslide that is progressively getting larger forced the evacuation of two homes in North Stafford’s Austin Ridge neighborhood last weekend. (Mary Davidson/PotomacLocal.com)

North Stafford, Va. — Conditions at two homes now victims of a landslide have gotten progressively worse.

On Saturday, two families were evacuated from their homes at 116 and 118 Brush Everard Court in North Stafford’s Austin Ridge neighborhood after the ground behind their home began to shift. Now, the ground has slid about 100 feet from where it was before, and those who evacuated still have not returned home, said Stafford fire and rescue spokesman Mark Doyle.

Prince William

9/11 Walker Aided by Fire Crew

By Potomac Local News

Published September 15, 2011 at 10:30AM | Updated September 16, 2011 at 8:47AM

Mac McQuown, center, stopped at OWL VFD Station 2 in Woodbridge on Monday for a little help during his nationwide walk to raise money for a 9/11 memorial. (Submitted).

Woodbridge, Va. –– Something funny happened on Mac McQuown’s walk to every state capital to raise awareness of the victims of Sept. 11. He began to have problems with the wheel on his cart after leaving Stafford and made an unexpected stop at a Woodbridge firehouse.

McQuown left the Globe and Laurel Restaurant in North Stafford on Sunday morning, 10 years to the date following the terrorist attacks. On Monday night, he stopped into OWL VFD Station 2 in Woodbridge after he encountered trouble with the cart he was pulling, said fire department spokeswoman Rebecca Barnes.

Politics

Transit a Tough Debate Topic

By Potomac Local News

Published September 15, 2011 at 9:00AM | Updated December 19, 2015 at 1:14AM

Left to right: Del. Luke Torian, Cleveland Anderson, debate moderator Matt Brock, Esteban Garces, and Stafford County Board Chairman Mark Dudenhefer discuss issues facing voters in the Potomac Communities in the upcoming November election.

Editors’s note: This is the first of a two-part series on a candidates’ forum held Wednesday in Lake Ridge.

Today: House of Delegates candidates Del. Luke Torian (D, 52, Dumfries, Lake Ridge), Cleveland Anderson, Esteban Garces, and Stafford County Board Chairman Mark Dudenhefer.

Tomorrow: Sen. Toddy Puller (D, 36 – Mount Vernon, Prince William, Stafford) and Jeff Frederick

News

Refuge Tours Offered

By Potomac Local News

Published September 14, 2011 at 1:53PM | Updated September 14, 2011 at 11:53PM

Young herons like this one are frequently seen at Occoquan Bay. (Photo: Bob Blakney)

Looking for something to do on Oct. 1? There’s a festival going on along the Potomac River.

On October 1, the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge will be the scene of the second annual Fall Festival sponsored by the Friends of the Potomac River Refuges. Special guests will include native plants, birds, butterflies and other wildlife. There is no admission charge and all activities are free!

Prince William

Town Makes New Hire

By Potomac Local News

Published September 14, 2011 at 12:00PM | Updated September 14, 2011 at 11:56PM

Dumfries Town Hall

Dumfries, Va. — Dumfries has someone new to manage the town’s storm water program, and he’s from Stafford County.

Richard West was hired by the town last month as the Assistant Director of Public Works. In addition to storm water management, he will also oversee planning, scheduling and execution of maintenance projects in the town.

News

Dixie Bones a Favorite

By Potomac Local News

Published September 14, 2011 at 10:30AM | Updated September 14, 2011 at 11:55PM

Shannon Bream is a fan of Dixie Bones Barbeque in Woodbridge.

Shannon Bream has made a successful TV career for her herself since she was Miss Virginia, working at WRC-TV in Washington and now FOX News Channel.

Though her job may take her to many spots around the nation to cover breaking news stories, Bream always comes back to Woodbridge to eat her favorite barbeque at Dixie Bones Barbeque on Occoquan Road, according to Northern Virginia Magazine.

Victims Make Demands

By Potomac Local News

Published September 14, 2011 at 9:00AM | Updated September 14, 2011 at 11:55PM

[File] Dozens of Flood victims in Woodbridge’s Holly Acres Mobile Home Park are not only dealing with homes that have been condemned, but a foul stench of sewage and rotting food that has permeated the area after flood waters receded. (Mary Davidson/PotomacLocal.com)

Woodbridge, Va. — Almost a precursor of things to come, a project map depicting a wider U.S. 1 shows the Holly Acres Mobile Home Park ~~being flooded and made into a retention pond~~ sitting in a flood plain.

Holly Acres, located along Marumsco Creek in Woodbridge off U.S. 1, flooded last week not from a man-made event but did so after rains from Tropical Storm Lee inundated the region and putting the neighborhood and surrounding businesses under 10 feet of water. Nearly 100 people were forced from their homes and into a Red Cross shelter at the Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center.

Prince William

Bookshelves, Remaining Books at Borders Gone

By Potomac Local News

Published September 13, 2011 at 3:00PM

Bargain hunters sifted through the last remaining books at Borders Books of Woodbridge final day of business on Monday.

Woodbridge, Va. — Those in the market for a used book shelf, CD rack or anything Borders Books used to market their merchandise on got a great deal Monday. All store fixtures – which were also being sold off with the rest of the remaining merchandise after the retailer filed for bankruptcy – were marked half off.

A sign in the store window at Borders on Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge on Monday stated it was the final day for the store that since the early 1990’s served as one of the area’s largest book retailers, and as a place to cozy up with a cup of coffee and read.