WASHINGTON, D.C. – (Press Release) Local Washington D.C. dog, K9 Summer, has been named the recipient of the 2019 AKC Humane Fund Award for Canine Excellence (ACE) in the Uniformed Services K9 category.

The ACE Awards are presented to five dogs in different categories each year to celebrate loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities.

“K-9 Summer” is a nine-year-old Labrador Retriever serving the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as an Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) with the Amtrak Police Department in Washington D.C.

With her handler, Sergeant Micah Jones, Summer is responsible for the protection and safety of passengers and personnel onboard trains as well as at the stations and infrastructure. She conducts K9 sweeps for VIPs, dignitaries, special and national athletic competitions, provides mutual aid to surrounding police departments and much more.

The award will be presented Saturday and Sunday, December 14-15, 2019, at the AKC National Championship in Orlando, Florida.

John Gray is the Republican seeking to replace Corey Stewart on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

Stewart is not seeking reelection after a 15-year term on the Board.

Gray’s opponent, Democrat Ann Wheeler spotted two charges on Gray’s campaign finance report showing Gray hired a private firm to delete past “offensive” tweets from his Twitter account. [The Washington Post]

This afternoon, Prince William County Republican Committee Chairman Bill Card issued a statement about their candidate.

“Prince William County is a diverse community where there is no place for bigotry or intolerance.  John Gray has apologized for the inappropriate comments that he made on Twitter in the past and he has expressed sincere remorse. John will be meeting with members of the community to make amends. Republicans reject divisive sentiments and identity politics. We fully subscribe to the Virginia Republican Creed that states in part: . . .  all individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice, and opportunities and should assume their responsibilities as citizens in a free society.

In that vein, I expect Prince William Democrats to give John Gray the same grace they have given Governor Northam for his blackface scandal. To not extend the same courtesy would be hypocritical.”

Two independent candidates are also seeking the At-Large Chairman’s seat.

• Muneer Baig
• Donald Scoggins.

(Press Release) Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public recently announced the Top 300 competitors in the 9th annual Broadcom MASTERS competition, two of which are from Manassas.

The Broadcom MASTERS, a program of the Society for Science & the Public, is the nation’s premier Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) competition for middle school students.

The Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS include:

• A nearly equal number of girls and boys, with about 52% males and 47% females.
• Students from 37 states, plus the District of Columbia, with California (77), Florida (40), Texas (29), Pennsylvania (16) and Utah (12) fielding the most Top 300 competitors.
• 199 students from public schools, 76 from private schools, 16 from charter schools and nine from home schools.

The students’ names and a state-by-state breakdown of the Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS can be found at student.societyforscience.org/2019-top-300-masters.

As the only middle school STEM competition that leverages Society-affiliated science fairs as a critical component of the STEM talent pipeline, the Broadcom MASTERS consists of the top 10 percent of 6th, 7th and 8th-grade projects entered in Society-affiliated fairs around the country.

Thirty of the Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS will be selected as finalists by a nationally ranked panel of scientists, engineers, and educators on September 18, after which they will travel to Washington, DC to compete in a four-day STEM competition for more than $100,000 in awards and prizes.

The finalists will participate in team challenges aimed at demonstrating their mastery of 21st Century skills in each of the STEM areas, meet with government officials and showcase their projects for the public in Washington, DC on October 26.

“Congratulations to the Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS, the top middle school STEM students in the country,” said Maya Ajmera, President & CEO of the Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News. “Middle school is a time of exceptional change and growth, and we are thrilled to be able to provide encouragement and support to these students as they continue their education and develop their interest in STEM.”

The Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS’ independent STEM research projects tackle a broad range of challenges such as:

• Using machine learning and infrared technology to detect drunk drivers
• Reducing ocean acidification using aquatic plants
• Investigating the role of melatonin and Omega-3 in healing brain injuries
• Using nanoparticles to improve air filtration systems
• Examining the effects of vaping liquid nicotine, used in e-cigarettes

“Through the Broadcom MASTERS and the Society’s network of science fairs, we are able to identify and inspire exceptional middle school scientists and engineers from across the country,” said Paula Golden, President of the Broadcom Foundation. “I’m honored to congratulate the Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS who are poised to take on our world’s grand challenges.”

The Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS were selected from a pool of 2,348 applicants from 47 states, DC, and two US territories.  These competitors were evaluated by a panel of distinguished scientists, engineers and educators and judged on creativity and originality of their science fair project, their ability to engage in analysis of data and understanding of STEM principles as they relate to the real world.

Each applicant was nominated to compete in the Broadcom MASTERS by placing among the top 10% of middle school competitors at Society-affiliated regional and state science fairs.

For more information on the Broadcom MASTERS, visit the Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public.

Prince William police tell us that 3:51 a.m, officers were called to the 3100 block of Chesapeake Drive near Dumfries to investigate a shooting.

• When officers arrived, they located an adult man suffering from gunshot wounds in the roadway near the above area.
• The man was taken to an area hospital where he later died.
• The Homicide Unit is investigating the incident to determine what led up the shooting.
• No arrest has been made in this incident.

Update

The deceased was identified as Antonio Kaoul SMITH, 37, of Dumfries.

This post is part of our Project:Election series, our annual look at candidates running for local office. 

• Election Day is November 5. 
• Find your polling place. 

Doug Taggart, an engineer and small business owner, is running to become the Potomac District Supervisor for Prince William County. His focuses include transportation and improved business development in the county.

Name: Doug Taggart

Party: Republican

Town: Dumfries

Running for: Supervisor Potomac District

Website: dtaggartforsupervisor.com

Work: President of a Small Business

Education: US Coast Guard Academy (BSEE) & Purdue University (MSEE)

Community Involvement: Board Member Montclair Property Owners Association (1997-present)
President & CEO Azalea Charities, Inc. (1999-present)
Montclair Lions Club (1995 – present)
Hylton Crew Boosters President (1996-2000)
PWC Industry Development Authority (Jan 2019 – present)

Questions and Answers

PL: What are the top three major issues facing the district you wish to represent? 

Taggart: Transportation, Schools, Jobs

PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues?

Taggart: I will take good ideas from wherever they originate, listen with an open mind to opposing views, and work cooperatively with other members of the Board of Supervisors to advance smart and judicious ideas that will benefit all of us.

PL: From your perspective, what is the job description of the office you’re seeking?

Taggart: Represent constituents at the local government level in the development and approval of annual budgets; conduct legislative activities impacting the county; (ordinances, tax rates, appointments); manage the development of land use plans, coordinate with other governmental activities impacting Prince William County.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Taggart: As an engineer I appreciate the complexity of issues. I enjoy the challenge of thinking of ways to make things work better and paying attention to detail. I bring to the job 22 years of serving as a Board member on the Montclair Property Owners Association. In addition I have 20+ years serving as a U.S. Coast Guard officer and an additional 10+ years serving as the President & CEO of a small business providing professional engineering and technical services to the Department of Defense. These management duties have prepared me well for the challenges of working with a broad spectrum of issues as a member of the Board of County Supervisors for Prince William County.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Taggart: From August 2005 to August 2006, I applied for and was accepted as a Congressional Science and Engineering fellow serving on the staff of a member of Congress during the second session of the 109th Congress. The fellowship program (I was 1 of 30 total fellows selected that year) was coordinated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). One of the key takeaways I had from that experience was that when constituents speak, you need to listen as those that take the time to make an inquiry know the issues and have strong feelings on those issues.

If I am afforded the opportunity to serve as a member of the PWC Board of Supervisors I will dedicate myself to keeping constituents informed through a wide and diverse collection of communication technologies, e.g., newsletters, social media venues, interviews, townhalls, etc…

PL: Have you ever made any mistakes in your public life? How have they affected you?

Taggart: I have not made any mistakes in my public life but rather I would suggest that I have been very fortunate in my life experiences and believe that my educational background, my community service activities, and the support of my family have prepared me well to continue to serve as a member of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.

PL: Our readers want leaders in local government. Why should they vote for you?

Taggart: My leadership experiences are founded on my years as a Coast Guard Officer, a Small Business President and CEO, the President & CEO of a non-profit organization (Azalea Charities, Inc.) that raises funds to support a dual mission (Aid for Wounded Warriors and youth and special needs projects in our local Northern Virginia area). I ask people to consider voting for me because I will promise to listen with an open mind to the advice and ideas of the business leaders, parents, students, teachers, first responders, and all those who comprise the backbone of our community to make Prince William County an even greater place to live, work, and do business.

(Press Release) The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will be installing new signs at Park & Ride commuter lots in the Fredericksburg area next week to prohibit motorists from leaving their vehicles unattended for more than 10 days.

• The regulatory signs will warn motorists that vehicles left longer than 10 consecutive days in the Park & Ride lots will be towed at the owner’s expense.
• Overnight parking is still allowed.
• These signs are being installed to address an increasing number of vehicles, boats, and trailers that are being left unattended in the lot for an extended period of time, or abandoned.

Crews will start installing the signs next week at the Staffordboro Boulevard lot near Route 610 (Garrisonville Road) in Stafford County. Workers will then move south to install the signage at the other Park & Ride lots in Stafford, Spotsylvania County, and Caroline County.

VDOT Park & Ride lots were established to support ridesharing and use of mass transit. To encourage ridesharing, VDOT wants as many spaces as possible to be available for the intended purpose of the lot.

Once the signs are installed in a Park & Ride lot, Virginia State Police will enforce the regulatory signs.

(Press Release) After an extensive interview process, the Board of County Supervisors appointed Acting Chief Tim Keen to the position of Chief of the Prince William County Fire and Rescue System.

• Keen has served the Prince William County Fire and Rescue System for nearly 40 years, beginning as a volunteer in January 1982.
• Keen graduated in 1988 as the top recruit from his class. He rose through the ranks demonstrating professionalism, leadership, and commitment to the community.
• He was most recently appointed as Acting Chief following the retirement of Chief Kevin McGee in January 2019.

“Chief Keen is a proven leader. He knows this community, has dedicated his professional life to serving Prince William County, and has demonstrated the ability to lead a combined Fire and Rescue System through any challenge and transition,” said Corey Stewart, Chairman of the Board of County Supervisors.

“I am grateful for the privilege I have had to serve alongside the men and women who protect this community through the Fire and Rescue System, and I am honored to accept this position,” said Chief Keen. “Through open communication, teamwork and accountability, I know that we will continue to build a better system that provides the highest level of service to the citizens and visitors of Prince William County.”

OmniRide Express buses will follow the Emergency Service Plan during the afternoon/evening commute today, Monday, September 23, due to street closures for demonstrations in Washington D.C.

Beginning at 12 noon, OmniRide Express buses will only pick up from Metro stations.

• Franconia-Springfield Metro Station for eastern Prince William County passengers (including Tysons-Woodbridge OmniRide Express)
• Tysons Corner Metro Station for Manassas, Gainesville, Haymarket and Linton Hall passengers

All afternoon/evening trips, including those that normally meet at the Pentagon around 12:30 p.m., will depart from the Metro stations approximately every 20 minutes.

• All regular Prince William/Manassas-area drop-off stops will be served. Services from the Metro stations will continue until 7:30 p.m., except for Prince William Metro Express buses, which will continue operating until their last published departure time.

Because this is not an anticipated event, fares will be free for OmniRide Express and Metro Express buses.

For the month of September, Mariachi’s Tequileria & Restaurant in Manassas will donate to The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation a portion of the proceeds from the sales of specific entrees and drinks.

• This fundraiser will help support the foundation’s mission of bringing children and families in the midst of a medical crisis or living with special needs.

Mariachi’s Tequileria & Restaurant General Manager Luke Tamer’s six-month-old daughter underwent open-heart surgery at Inova Children’s Hospital.

• While there, he met The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation (SJGF) Founder Sara Knight.
• Knight was there as part of SJGF’s PICU program, catering monthly a lunch, providing ‘PICU Parent-Survival Kits’ which include snacks, deodorant, shampoo, flip flops, face wipes, and other needed toiletries.

Afterward, the restaurant and SJFG decided to collaborate for a fundraiser.

• Qualifying entrees purchased at Mariachi’s include Fried Chicken & Churros with fresh raspberries, Chocolate & Red Chile Waffles with Raspberry Compote, Grilled Chicken with Raspberry Mole. Drinks include the Raspberry Margarita, Mariachi’s Raspberry Infused Tequila, Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini, and Spiked Raspberry Lemonade.
• The Bristow-based foundation, named in honor of Knight’s daughter who passed away in 2013 due to complications of a rare disease called I-cell, supports families facing a medical crisis or special needs.

The mission is to fill in the gaps other services are unable to fill, so these families can be properly supported.

• SJGF grants wishes, gives children iPads to keep them connected, buys all-terrain wheelchairs, modifies homes to give more independence, sends children on dream trips, arranges celebrity meet-and-greets, creates outdoor spaces for children to enjoy, reveals room makeovers, contributes therapy-related gifts, throws parties to celebrate birthdays and ‘end of chemo.”

All three candidate forums will start at 6:30 p.m. and be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg (UUFF), at 25 Chalice Circle in South Stafford County.

• The church is located in the northwest corner of the Chatham Shopping Center, off Chatham Heights Road.

Candidates running for state office, who will be on Stafford County ballots, will participate on October 4.

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