Author: Rick Horner

Business

Inflation hurting area small businesses; fed surveys local entrepreneurs

By Rick Horner
[Photo: Mike Petrucci/Unsplash]

A federal survey seeks whether small businesses have recovered from the coronavirus pandemic. However, some local business owners are more concerned about a potential recession and inflation. The Federal Reserve recently distributed questionnaires to gather data for its Small Business Credit Survey 2022 Report on Employer Firms.

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Planning Commission approves new Woodbridge elementary school location

By Rick Horner

The Prince William County Planning Commission approved a location for a new elementary school in Woodbridge. Construction crews will build the on about 10 acres on the north side of Prince William Parkway near the intersection of Route 1.

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Successful test flight of ‘Dawn One’ at Manassas Regional Airport

By Rick Horner
Dawn One at Manassas Regional Airport
[caption id="attachment_183300" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Dawn One at Manassas Regional Airport[/caption]

Manassas Regional Airport recently hosted an unmanned research aircraft's first successful test flight.

Dawn One, an unmanned solar-electric hybrid research aircraft with a 90-foot wingspan, was designed to be used for atmospheric studies by Electra Aero. According to a press release on Electra's website about the event, Dawn One was created to be part of Harvard University's Stratospheric Airborne Climate Observatory System.

The project is supported by contracts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Weld Foundation for Scientific and Environmental Development.

The project is designed to observe and collect data, allowing for deeper research into the physical, chemical, and biological controls that govern critical climate systems. 

"The high-spatial resolution observations from SACOS will provide, for the first time, quantitative forecasts of risk associated with rapidly expanding wildfires, the increasing rate of sea level rise, the intensification of severe storms, and global shifts in arid regions that trigger water shortages," the project's leader Professor James G. Anderson Professor Anderson said. "Moreover, these quantitative forecasts of risk will, in turn, establish the essential intellectual links directly coupling irreversible changes in the climate structure to economics, public policy, and associated societal instability."

According to airport manager Juan Rivera, Electra approached the regional airport for the Dawn One test flight in June 2022.

"The airport supports new innovative aviation companies. These types of test flights may lead to new Advance Air Mobility (AAM) flights for our airport that could bring educational and career opportunities to this region," said Rivera.

Electra Aero is one of many new aerospace companies to open its doors in Manassas last year. The airport is also home to Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences and the Reston-based Leidos. According to Rivera, both companies have been at the airport for over five years.

Below is a video of the flight courtesy of Electra Aero:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyTzx9UCvyo

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Stafford to consider funding first flight exhibit with $150,000 coronavirus money

By Rick Horner
A small scale replica of Aerodrome No.5, a lighter-than-air craft launched near Quantico in 1896, seven years before the famed Wright Brothers flight in Kitty Hawk, N.C. [Photo: Rick Horner]
[caption id="attachment_181743" align="aligncenter" width="600"] A small-scale replica of Aerodrome No.5, a lighter-than-air craft launched near Quantico in 1896, seven years before the famed Wright Brothers flight in Kitty Hawk, N.C. [Photo: Rick Horner][/caption]

Updated -- The Stafford County Board of Supervisors could use coronavirus money to help tell the story of Aerodrome No. 5, now believed to be the first case of unmanned flight.

The Langley Foundation has sought American Rescue Plan Act funding to create a new exhibit at the Stafford Regional Airport, a replica of Aerodrome No. 5, flown by Samuel Pierpont Langley on May 6, 1896, in Stafford County.

dThe foundation's president Chris Hornung hopes to raise $300,000 to build the exhibit. The funds from the county would be a one-to-one match with the foundation responsible for raising the other $150,000.

Some members of the Board expressed disapproval over the potential funding. Hartwood District Supervisor Darrell English said there would be little return on the investment. The regional airport is located in the Hartwood District. English later stated that the funds would be better suited to establish a museum in the county.

"I don't think this is a good use of funding," said English. "I think we have other needs that we need to take care of and I can't support it."

Aquia District Supervisor Monica Gary responded with her support of the project, believing it could bring tourism to the county.

"I see this as an investment," said Gary. "A small investment compared to the return we could see, such as education opportunities and what this would do for our tourism."

According to county documents, Director of Economic Development and Tourism John Holden said ARPA funding could be used to aid planned expansion or upgrade of tourism, travel, and hospitality facilities delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The county's consultants are still reviewing the project to meet compliance for eligibility.

The Aerodrome No. 5 project has been in the works since 2019 and was hampered by the pandemic. The foundation has contracted with the Warrenton-based Wright Experience to construct the exhibit.

The goals of the Aerodrome Initiative include bringing national attention to the Aerodrome No.5 event as the first heavier-than-air mechanical flight in history, the first successful aircraft carrier launch, and the first unmanned aerial vehicle. Other goals include the development of an aviation STEAM-related curriculum for county students, attracting the aviation industry to the area, and promoting employment opportunities in the aviation field.

The Board of Supervisors has yet to approve the funding and could do so soon. 

The Langley Foundation is obligated to raise funds to build the exhibit by December 31, 2024, and have it completed by December 31, 2026.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the Stafford County Board of Supervisors had resolved to use coronavirus money to fund the Aerodrome No. 5 project.

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Stafford schools seek teachers raises to compete with Prince William, other NOVA counties

By Rick Horner
Photo: Stafford County Public Schools
[caption id="attachment_177486" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Photo: Stafford County Public Schools[/caption]

Stafford County Public Schools has requested that Virginia give its teachers a raise to make the jurisdiction more competitive with neighboring counties.

COCA, otherwise known as Cost of Competing Adjustment, is given to counties by the state to adjust salary differences for support and teaching staff between localities. The funding for counties is based on average salary and population, which are currently expected to rise higher over the next decade in Stafford County.

According to the school division, Stafford is the third-fastest growing county in Virginia and has increased by 10 percent over the last decade. Despite that growth, the school division only receives the adjustment funding that matches 25 percent of its annual budget.

Nine school divisions in Northern Virginia are granted 100 percent of COCA funding, making it hard for Stafford County to remain competitive in retaining teaching staff and support personnel.

Nearby localities such as Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County receive only 25 percent of the funding.

On average, Stafford teachers make $10,000 less than teachers in nearby Prince William County, which is among the nine counties that receive 100 percent funding.

Many teachers who begin their teaching careers in Stafford schools often stay long enough to gain experience and then leave for higher salaries in other school divisions.

According to the Superintendent's Annual Report for Virginia for Fiscal Year 2021, Stafford County spends $11,982 in per pupil expenditures from an annual budget of $350,149,101 for FY 2021.

Prince William County, for example, spends $13,425 in per-pupil expenditures. This puts SCPS' per pupil expenditures lower than any of the Northern Virginia counties that receive a 100 percent match of COCA funding.

"The intent of COCA was to recognize the higher costs that division incur due to more competitive markets. The Northern Virginia labor market drives the salary costs higher for these divisions," says Sandra Osborn, Stafford schools spokeswoman. " The Division is pushing for the change in the COCA allocation now effective for the Fiscal Year 2024, based on their legislative priorities."

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Romanian Orthodox Mission holds Fredericksburg area festival to raise funds for a new church

By Rick Horner

[gallery ids="183071,183072"]

The Saint Callinicus Romanian Orthodox Church held its second annual Romanian Festival on Saturday, October 8, 2022.

The event was held at the Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, off Route 3 in Spotsylvania County, and offered a taste of authentic Romanian food, games, and attractions for children, Romanian folk music and dancing performances, and vendors selling art and jewelry.

Among the delicacies at the Festival was the Romanian staple of stuffed cabbage. Other items on the menu included meat rolls, sausages, and beef paprikash which contains beef and assorted vegetables such as onions and peppers.

The Saint Callinicus mission was founded in 2021 and is a member of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the United States of America and is named for Saint Callinicus of Cernica. They served as Bishop of Ramnicu Valcea in Romania and lived from 1787 to 1868.

The mission currently has about 20 families as part of its congregation and rents the Greek orthodox church for its services and events, according to Father Ionel Satnoianu.

"The Romanian Orthodox Church is as old as the Romanian Nation, over 400 years old," says Satnoianu. "Along with our faith, we have brought all of our customs, beautiful and unique costumes from each region of the country, folk dancers that are unique for that area of Eastern Europe, the music and the food as well."

Satnoianu says the Festival gives the mission more visibility to the local community and hopes to attract others to the church. Saint Callinicus is also hoping to raise funds to buy a parcel of land to build its own church eventually.

According to Satnoianu, he has seen growth in attendance at this year's Festival when compared to last year. The church tried to advertise its event on social media platforms such as Facebook and local radio stations.

The Saint Callinicus mission holds its masses at the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church's Nativity at 12326 Spotswood Furnace Road in Spotsylvania County.

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University of Mary Washington unveiled plans for new theater arts building

By Rick Horner
Picture courtesy of HGA Architects and Engineers
[caption id="attachment_182999" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Picture courtesy of HGA Architects and Engineers[/caption]

The University of Mary Washington President Troy Paino unveiled conceptual drawings for a new building for the school's theater arts program.

The presentation plans to construct a two-story, 63,000-square-foot building on the school's campus on the corner of Sunken Road and William Street. The new theater building will replace two current dormitory buildings, William and Russell halls, and have a path leading from the University's bell tower on campus and another from the Sunken and William crossroad in front of the campus leading to the building's second level.

Plans for the new building were developed by Virginia-based Commonwealth Architects and Minnesota-based HGA Architects and Engineers.

The new building is designed to have two small theaters on each level, one with 300 seats and the other with 150 seats. The theaters are intended to hold classes but can also be used for performances. The building will also have two studios for the school's dance program, faculty offices, and storage space.

The University of Mary Washington will receive $117 million in state funding from the Virginia State budget for the project's Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

In addition to the new theater arts building, some of the funding will also go to renovate three other dormitories, namely Melchers, DuPont, and Pollard. All three halls have been operating on the campus since they were built in the 1950s and need renovations.

"The halls are incompatible with the needs of the 21st century," said Paino. "Those halls hold programs that are important to attract the next generation of students, programs that have been successful in career development and community outreach."

Paino explained some of the reasons for the hall's renovations, including improving accessibility for physically disabled students. The two halls that will be demolished to make way for the new theater arts building, William and Russell, were also in line for renovations but would have to wait 20 years before the funding was available.

The university president also explained that the University was unable to take on the debt capacity necessary to renovate the two buildings, which made the decision to replace them with the new theater building more tenable.

An event to celebrate the closing of William and Russell Halls is already in the planning stages in 2023. Mary Washington is currently exploring ways to honor the building and its namesakes, such as a cookout event, and physical and virtual tours of the halls before their demolition were also mentioned as possibilities.

The next step in the process for the building will be a presentation made to the school's Board of Visitors Executive Committee and then another with the Town and Gown Committee later in the month. Members of the committee will include university administration, students, representatives of neighborhood associations, and city government officials.

The University is also planning a presentation for Fredericksburg's Art and Architectural Review Board and is currently preparing an environmental impact report to share with city officials.

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Jail stands to lose millions in local funding if state picks up cost inmate commissary costs, Stafford warns

By Rick Horner

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors approved a letter outlining concerns about inmate fees that could affect the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

The letter, written on behalf of the regional jail's board, was sent to the Virginia Board of Local and Regional Jails, which is currently engaged in a study on the effects of fees prisons charge inmates at commissaries. The study is looking into potentially reducing or eliminating those costs.

This study is required due to the adoption of Senate Bill 581 by the Virginia General Assembly. The bill was approved by the Senate in April 2022 and signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin in July 2022.

The chief concern outlined by Stafford County's letter is that if the study recommends that local and regional jails pay for goods and services instead of inmates, it could result in a reduction in the Rappahannock Regional Jail's $36.5 million annual budget.

Stafford County, in which the regional jail sits, contributes 38% percent, or roughly $8.3 million, of the jail's funding.

The county estimates the regional jail could lose as much as $2.7 million from its general fund and $625,576 from its commissary purchase revenue. The potential cost of the jail purchasing goods and services instead of relying on purchases from inmates is estimated to cost the jail $801,159.

The regional jail currency receives revenue from charging inmates for items from its commissary, phone and tablet systems use, and purchases from outside food vendors.

Inmates at local and county jails are currently allowed to purchase goods and services through accounts held by the correctional facilities. Friends and family members of inmates can deposit funds into these accounts for inmates' use.

The revised letter was the result of concerns by members of the board of supervisors that it was taking a position on the study before the results were even finalized. The letter was rewritten to make known the board's concerns about potential budget reductions for the jail.

The study is expected to be concluded, and its finding and recommendations will be submitted to the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Safety and the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services by December 2022.

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Penny’s Used Auto Parts — one of the area’s first black-owned businesses — seeks help to rise from ashes

By Rick Horner
Pennys Used Auto Parts on Minnieville Road in Woodbridge caught fire [Photo: Prince William fire and rescue]
[caption id="attachment_182798" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Pennys Used Auto Parts on Minnieville Road in Woodbridge caught fire [Photo: Prince William fire and rescue][/caption]

Penny's Used Auto Parts has started a GoFundMe to raise funds for its recovery after a devastating fire.

The Archie Family, the owners, and operators of Penny's, are asking for 100,000 to help rebuild the business. The fundraiser has received $650 in the four days since it has been online.

Penny's was founded in 1956 by Henry and Anne Archie as the first used car parts junkyard in Woodbridge. Penny was Henry Archie's nickname, which became the business's name.

Penny's was built on the land owned by the family since the 1900s and is one of the first black-owned businesses in the area. The business was passed on to the founder's son Richard who works alongside his daughter Shannon and two other members of the Archie family.

"We've made auto parts affordable for our community and made it possible for people with older cars to keep their cars on the road because a lot of yards cater to the newer vehicles," says Shannon Archie. 

Penny's has also historically donated cars to single mothers and low-income families and money to local charities like boys' and girls' clubs, baseball, football, and soccer teams.

A report of fire at the used auto parts store located at 13059 Minnieville Road in Woodbridge was reported at 12:17 a.m. on September 28. The Prince William County Fire Department fought the blaze but was unable to save the building, which is a total loss. 

The fire is currently under investigation by the Prince William County Fire Marshal's Office. Donations can be made to the Archie Family's GoFundMe page.

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Solar farms see bright future in Stafford County

By Rick Horner
[Photo by Zbynek Burival on Unsplash]
[caption id="attachment_182874" align="aligncenter" width="600"] [Photo by Zbynek Burival on Unsplash][/caption]

Two companies aim to build solar farms in the Hartwood and Falmouth districts in Stafford County.

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission held a joint meeting to hear details on the proposals. Members of both bodies had concerns about the facilities based on issues at other solar farms.

The first facility, Enon Road Solar Farm LLC, a project of Florida-based company EsaSolar, would sit on about 16 acres off of Enon Road and Truslow roads, according to documents provided by Stafford County, generating enough electricity to power about 600 homes.

The website for the Enon Road facility offers a timeline where key events are tentatively scheduled to move the project forward. The project's applicants hope the county will approve the development this year to enter an Interconnection Agreement with Dominion Energy as part of its Shared Solar Program, an electrical subsidy program for the poor.

If approved, The Enon Road project developers hope to begin construction of the facility in 2024.

Another company, Kinglet Solar Farm LLC, has also applied to the county to build a 44-acre facility that would generate power for 660 homes and sit off Truslow Road near Interstate 95. This facility would also be part of Dominion Power's Shared Solar Program.

The plans for Kinglet's facility are in their early stages. No company did not include a construction timeline in its plans.

Board of Supervisors members expressed concerns regarding potential hazards that could affect the solar facilities. Griffis-Widewater District Supervisor Tinesha Allen said stormwater runoff could make the ground beneath the solar collectors softer and endanger the soil integrity.

Applicants said that building retaining walls that could prevent stormwater runoff from the collectors is a possible solution. A stormwater retention area is marked in the concept plans for the Enon Road facility.

Elected leaders are also concerned about the fire risk, specifically with the facilities' storage batteries. Stafford County Administrator Randy Vosberg said fire suppressant technology would be installed in the storage batteries. According to Vosberg, this has become a standard practice with solar facilities.

The Enon Road and Kinglet Solar Facilities are not the first time that Stafford County has dealt with the question of solar power. Potomac Local News reported earlier this year an offer to install solar panels on the roof of North Stafford High School.

Nearby Spotsylvania County has also been getting in on solar. Sustainable Power Group constructed a 500-megawatt solar farm in the Wilderness area of the county in 2020. The farm had met resistance from residents since the project was announced in 2017 due to the large amount of land that the farm takes up.

Members of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors plan to send the matter down to the Planning Commission so that a subcommittee can be created to set standards for the facilities.

The Planning Commission will update the Board of Supervisors on the matter at its second January 2023 meeting, which has yet to be scheduled.

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