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!

News

NOVEC Crews Continue Restoration Efforts After Major Storm

By Uriah Kiser

Crews from the Northern Virginia Electrical Cooperative (NOVEC), along with contractors and support from other electric cooperatives, continue to restore power after a severe storm that hit Northern Virginia on Thursday, August 29, 2024. The storm caused significant damage, particularly in Stafford County and southern Fauquier County, leading to widespread outages and extensive repairs.

As of 7 a.m. on Saturday, August 31, NOVEC reports that the number of customers affected by the storm has decreased from 6,000 to approximately 430. In Stafford County, crews are focused on replacing broken electric poles and repairing downed power lines. Replacing a single broken pole can take several hours, especially when trees are down, and the ground is saturated from heavy rain.

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Features

Potomac Local News Welcomes New Intern Aya Karouane from Mountain View High School

By Uriah Kiser
Potomac Local News Founder and Publisher Uriah Kiser and Aya Karouane, of Mountain View High School

Potomac Local News is excited to announce Aya Karouane as the newest intern joining our team. Aya, 16, a junior at Mountain View High School in Stafford County, brings a fresh perspective to our team of independent community journalists.

When asked about the importance of community journalism, Aya emphasized, “You can find news about major national stories anywhere, but it’s difficult to find reliable local news. Community journalism ensures that everyone has access to the news that happens in their own backyard.”

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News

No Tornadoes, But Plenty of Trouble: Northern Virginia’s Dark and Stormy Night Explained

By Uriah Kiser
A downed tree on Spotted Tavern Road in Stafford County. [Photo: Stafford County Sheriff's Office]

Chris Strong from the National Weather Service Baltimore-Washington office noted the unusual nature of the storm, highlighting that “one of the biggest things that was more uncommon about that event was just how little wind there was in the general atmosphere for these storms to move around.” This lack of atmospheric movement allowed the storms to “evolve and develop in place,” leading to prolonged periods of heavy rain and persistent lightning across several areas.

Despite the severity, the region did not experience any tornadic activity. Strong explained that tornadoes generally require wind shear—an increase in wind speed and a change in direction at different altitudes—which was absent during this event. This contributed to the storm’s stationary behavior, causing extended weather disturbances over the same locations.

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Features

Economic Strain Triggers Operational Shifts at House of Mercy

By Uriah Kiser
“Grow Your Own Vegetable Garden” free class will be at House of Mercy Tuesday November 17, 7-9pm. You must register for this class. Dinner will be served.

House of Mercy, a longstanding food pantry and thrift store near Manassas, announced significant operational changes in response to a sharp increase in demand for its services. The organization will temporarily halt new client registrations and shift from offering free to discounted clothing.

“We’ve seen a 49% increase in demand just this year,” said Jessica Root, executive director for House of Mercy. “This year, we hit our capacity, serving over 134 families in a single day. We’re temporarily pausing new client registrations to focus on our current clients and ensure we maintain the quality of service.”

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Business

Potomac River Orthodontics to Celebrate One-Year Anniversary with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

By Uriah Kiser

 

Potomac River Orthodontics, led by Dr. Owais Naeem, will mark its first anniversary with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 4 p.m. The event will occur at 12701 Galveston Court, near Hoadly Road and Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge.

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Schools

Stafford County’s High School Redistricting: A Close Look at Proposed Scenarios

By Uriah Kiser

This one’s for the people who really care about local news. Locals Only members get deeper reporting, more context, and fewer shortcuts. Think that’s you? 👉 Join Locals Only Already a member? Sign in

This one’s for the people who really care about local news.

Locals Only members get deeper reporting, more context, and fewer shortcuts.

Think that’s you?
👉 Join Locals Only
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Manassas

Manassas Plans Ribbon Cutting for Renovated City Hall

By Uriah Kiser
Manassas City Hall

The Manassas community is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, September 9, at 4:30 p.m. to celebrate the completion of the extensive renovations to the City Hall at 9027 Center Street. The event will also mark the dedication of the newly named Edgar Rohr City Council Chambers, honoring a pivotal figure in the city’s history.

Departments returned to City Hall in June after a two-year renovation phase, and the first City Council meeting in the renovated building will take place immediately after the ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

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News

State to Purchase Manassas Rail Line to Expand Passenger Service

By Uriah Kiser

The Virginia Mercury: “The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority has reached a new deal with Norfolk Southern to extend its state-supported Amtrak service to the New River Valley by 2028, while avoiding a costly tunnel upgrade and making it easier to eventually bring service to Bristol.”

“Under the new agreement, which the VPRA’s board of directors approved by a unanimous vote at its meeting in Richmond Tuesday, the state will also purchase Norfolk Southern’s Manassas Line and gain access to the company’s main line, also dubbed the N-Line — a move that is expected to increase passenger rail options for thousands of Virginians.

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Features

A Renewed Mission at Habitat: Prince William Focuses on Repairs and ReStore Revamp

By Uriah Kiser

Habitat for Humanity in Prince William County, under the interim leadership of Steve Liga, is recalibrating its mission to tackle the unique challenges of expensive real estate and a community need for home repairs rather than new builds.

Liga, who stepped in as the interim director, detailed how his experience with other nonprofits led him to this role. He explained his immediate focus on stabilizing the organization’s financial footing and reconnecting with the community after a slow period exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

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