STAFFORD COUNTY — Behind the doors of a conference room in Howell Library, formerly England Run, Moms Demand Action held a panel discussion on gun violence.
Fourteen people attended and voiced their insights and concerns regarding gun violence in the community. There were three panelists at the event: “community mom” Eunice Haigler, Captain Lee Peters from the Sheriff Office, and Joshua Cole, assistant pastor and local NAACP chapter president for Stafford County.
STAFFORD — Superintendent Scott Kizner’s Fiscal Budget for the 2019-20 school year proposes a 22.45 percent increase in funding for guidance services in Stafford’s public schools. The total budget requested for the guidance program is $8.5 million.
Funding for guidance services come from both state and local funds. Included in the budget are salaries, benefits, professional development, conference fees, and instructional supplies.
STAFFORD — Once a main priority for the Stafford County School Board, setting a new transgender bathroom policy will have to wait.
The issue in recent weeks has gotten pushed aside as the School Board instead focuses on making and approving its 2020 budget and tries to make good on a promise to redistrict and every elementary school in the county.
FREDERICKSBURG — Behind the glass windows of Katora Coffee lies much more than a cup of coffee and hot tea. Within its graffitied walls are two co-owners who risen above countless obstacles to create a community-oriented space.
April and Christian Zammas opened Katora Coffee at 615 Caroline St. on Dec. 11, 2017.
STAFFORD — Amidst a storm of information regarding Superintendent Scott Kizner’s newly proposed transgender policy, the name of one organization keeps recurring: Equality Stafford.
The group was formed two years ago by Amy Saunders, Stafford resident and mother of a transgender student. It is a community of both adult allies and students who seek to establish LGBT+ policies in Stafford.
STAFFORD — In the effort to improve traffic flow northbound at Interstate 95 and Route 17, officials have two options.
The first design is VDOT’s “base” option which is within the project’s budget, which takes away the northeast ramp for traffic exiting I-95 north and entering Route 17 North. Getting rid of the loop essentially prevents traffic from slowing down as other drivers try to merge get on and off I-95 on the same stretch of road in the existing a collector-distributor lane.
OCCOQUAN — The Town of Occoquan is redesigning their town logo in order to promote marketing and draw in new businesses.
“The creation of a Town logo was initiated last spring by the prior administration as part of a website redesign project that is ongoing, and was spurred by requests from the business community to update the Town website to better promote offerings in Occoquan,” Mayor Earnie Porta said.
STAFFORD — Residents filled 70 minutes of citizen comment time at the School Board meeting on Tuesday. They spoke about the proposed Gender Identity and Expression policy drafted by Stafford Public Schools Superintendent Scott Kizner regarding transgender students.
It’s in response to an incident in October when a Stafford County middle school when a transgender student was reportedly unable to take refuge in locker rooms during an active shooter safety drill. While the drafted policy is in part a follow-up to this issue, transgender policies have been discussed in Stafford in recent years.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — LaTonsha “LT” Pridgen (D) is running to represent the voice of the people in Coles District as a member the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.
She says she’s running to improve education, transportation, and to bring more jobs to Prince William County.
WOODBRIDGE — Prince William officials want to give the county’s water tanks a makeover.
A new Prince William County wordmark will be painted on the sides of Service Authority water tanks throughout the county.
