Fairfax County, Va. — There are new photos of a woman who robbed a bank in Springfield this week, which was just one incident in a string of cases that has captured the attention of Northern Virginia residents.
The woman in the surveillance photos is 26-year-old Stephanie Lynn Schwab, of the Manassas area, police said. The photos were taken inside a BB&T Bank branch in Springfield that was robbed about 1 p.m. Tuesday.
North Stafford, Va. — A technology and research park eyed for North Stafford took another leap forward this week after county officials approved money to find floor space and identified funds to market the yet-to-be opened facility.
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 15 approved $237,000 for which the Board’s committee on Community and Economic Development and will use to find a space for the long-talked about center and to brand the facility, said Stafford spokeswoman Cathy Vollbrecht.
Officers were called to 14797 Darbydale Avenue at 6:20 p.m. Monday where the store clerk told them about the robbery.
The clerk described the man was black, between 18 and 25-years-old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 160 pounds with a thin build, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt under a red and white jersey, jeans, gloves and mask. No one was injured.
Woodbridge, Va. — It’s that time of year again when Santa and Mrs. Claus come down from the North Pole to ride on Virginia Railway Express.
Tickets to the immensely popular Santa Trains will go on sale at 9 a.m. Monday for $5 each, $6 if purchased on VRE’s website via PayPal. They usually sell out fast.
Officials said the high bond rating comes as the county has worked hard to save tax payers money.
“This is truly an exciting accomplishment, especially when you consider the serious economic challenges this nation has faced over the last few years,” said Stafford Rock Hill District Supervisor Cord Sterling. “But we stayed focused on our goal of being responsible and accountable to our citizens, streamlined government and cut taxes, and prioritized funding for our core needs such as public safety, schools and infrastructure. This strict fiscal discipline continues to help us outpace other communities in Virginia. We had to make some tough decisions to put County finances in order.”
Approximately 42.5 million Americans are planning to travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving holiday, with most of them planning to put rubber to the road.
Once again this year the automobile will carry 90 percent of holiday travelers to grandma’s house as an expected 38.2 million people expected to hit the roads this week, a four percent increase over last year.
The 29-year-old victim from Dumfries had been inside the K2 nightclub at Featherstone Plaza in on U.S. 1 in Woodbridge on Saturday night and had seen a man that she knew, said a Prince William police spokesman. Later that night as the woman was walking to her car, the man she saw inside the club was standing next to her vehicle. He pulled her closed and then assaulted her, said police.
The victim was able to flee and contact police.
Occoquan, Va. — It’s a sign of the times in Occoquan, literally. The Town Council has proposed changes to the rules that govern the types of signs businesses in the historic district can use.
Under the newly proposed rules, businesses can use up to four signs whether they be flags with logos or regular signs in any combination they choose. They’ll also be able to use up to two portable A-frame chalkboard signs outside their shops.
The show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school, at 14000 Smoketown Road in Woodbridge across from Potomac Mills mall.
All proceeds from the show will benefit the school’s orchestra program with the purchase of new instruments, new music, awards and scholarships, and instrument maintenance, said craft show coordinator Kathy Kann.
Occoquan, Va. — The ghosts of Christmas were alive and about in Occoquan on Friday night.
A crowd of about 150 outside stood outside town hall on Mill Street for the annual lighting of the town’s Christmas tree. They helped to countdown from five the seconds until the button was pushed to light the tree.
