Author: Uriah Kiser

I'm the Founder and Publisher of Potomac Local News. Raised in Woodbridge, I'm now raising my family in Northern Virginia and care deeply about our community. If you're not getting our FREE email newsletter, you are missing out. Subscribe Now!

Schools

Stafford Schools Rolls Out SCOUT, a New Mobile Engagement Vehicle

By Uriah Kiser
[Photo: Stafford County Public Schools]

The event, held in the parking lot of Target at Stafford Marketplace, featured music, giveaways, children’s book readings, and the collection of filled Empower Packs—backpacks stocked with school supplies for students in need.

SCOUT, which stands for Strengthening Community through Outreach, Understanding, and Trust, was unveiled at 9 a.m. to applause and chants of “Roll out SCOUT!” led by School Board Chair Maureen Siegmund. The vehicle is designed to bring educational resources, enrollment help, wellness information, and support services directly into neighborhoods across Stafford County.

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Politics

Jack Tiwari Enters Race for Gainesville Supervisor in Upcoming Special Election

By Uriah Kiser
Tiwari

GAINESVILLE, Va. – The Prince William Democratic Committee just told Potomac Local News they’ll hold a caucus next weekend to pick their nominee for the Gainesville District seat—and we now know the first candidate.

Jewan “Jack” Tiwari, a longtime Gainesville and Manassas resident, has officially announced he’s running for the seat on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. The seat was left vacant after Supervisor Bob Weir passed away in July.

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Manassas

Winsome Sears Brings Campaign to Manassas, Manassas Park Today

By Uriah Kiser

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle‑Sears, the Republican nominee for Virginia governor, will make two stops in the Greater Manassas area today as part of her statewide campaign tour, “Operation Defend & Deliver.”

Sears is expected to appear at the 34th Annual African American Culture Arts Festival at Metz Middle School in Manassas between 12 and 1 p.m. The free, family-friendly event, hosted by the African American Foundation of Prince William County, runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features more than 125 exhibitors — including arts and crafts vendors, cultural retailers, youth groups, college and school exhibits, a Health Fair, Business and Job Expos, a Classic Car Show, and food vendors.

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Prince William

Dumfries Town Council to Vote on Eviction of Historic Dumfries Nonprofit

By Uriah Kiser

DUMFRIES, Va. — The Dumfries Town Council will vote on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, on whether to terminate its lease agreement with Historic Dumfries Virginia, Inc. (HDVI) — the nonprofit that has operated the Weems-Botts Museum and adjacent annex for over 50 years.

The proposed resolution appears on the Council’s public meeting agenda and, according to an email from HDVI, follows a 6-1 closed-session vote on July 1 to remove HDVI from the historic property and its annex, which also houses the group’s research library and visitor center. If approved, the resolution would effectively evict the organization from the town-owned property by mid-August.

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Prince William

Neabsco Parking Garage’s EV Chargers Bring Modest Revenue Amid Broader Underuse

By Uriah Kiser
A vehicle charging station at Neabsco Parking Garage in Woodbridge.

Electric vehicle chargers at Prince William County’s first commuter parking garage have generated more than $1,300 in net revenue since opening in November 2024, offering a slight return amid broader concerns about the garage’s low usage and rising operating costs.

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Politics

Patrick Harders Joins Gainesville Supervisor Race

By Uriah Kiser
Harders

GAINESVILLE, Va. – Patrick Harders, a longtime Manassas area resident and founder of a regional outdoor lighting company, is running for Gainesville District Supervisor—and he’s entering a race already stirred by internal Republican friction and calls for leadership rooted in integrity.

Harders announced his candidacy Thursday, casting himself as a conservative voice for responsible growth, fiscal accountability, and transparency. He says he’s stepping up to continue the work of the late Supervisor Bob Weir, who died earlier this month and was known for his outspoken opposition to data center sprawl.

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Prince William

Prince William Supervisors Vote to Cut Meals Tax to 3%

By Uriah Kiser
A waitress at Dixie Bones BBQ in Woodbridge.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted Tuesday to lower the county’s meals tax from 4% to 3%, a move intended to relieve economic pressure on families and local restaurants. The change, passed on a 5–2 vote, will take effect January 1, 2026.

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Features

Riverside Center Plans Tighter Runs, Bigger Impact for 2026 Season

By Uriah Kiser

As Next to Normal prepares to close on August 3, the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is already looking ahead—unveiling the first details of its 2026 season, which promises to blend musical nostalgia, literary beauty, and patriotic charm.

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Prince William

Prince William Forest Park Restores Cabin Camp Landscape to Its Rustic Roots

By Uriah Kiser

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — Visitors staying at Prince William Forest Park’s Cabin Camp 3 this summer may notice small white flags scattered throughout the wooded landscape. Far from surrender flags, these markers represent the park’s latest effort to restore its historic cabin camps to their original, rustic charm.

Park officials are launching a revegetation project aimed at allowing the surrounding forest to naturally reclaim open areas around the camp’s historic buildings, which date back to the 1930s. According to Superintendent George Liffert, the process involves reducing mowing and encouraging native vegetation to grow in, helping the camp feel once again nestled within the forest rather than carved out of it.

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Politics

Data Centers, Development, and Distrust: Gainesville District Politics Erupt Ahead of Special Election

By Uriah Kiser

Just hours after the Prince William Board of County Supervisors paid tribute to their late colleague Bob Weir, political tensions flared in the race to replace him.

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