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!

Originals

Stafford Schools to Host Career GPS Expo to Guide Sixth Graders’ Future Pathways

By Uriah Kiser
Stafford Regional Airport Terminal [Photo: Rick Horner]

The event is designed to introduce approximately 2,500 sixth-grade students to various career pathways through hands-on learning opportunities, interactive exhibits, and connections with local professionals and businesses. The expo aims to help students begin planning for high school and their future careers by exposing them to various industries.

Director of Career and Technical Education Stephanie Carter emphasized that Career GPS is more than just a field trip. It calls it an opportunity for students to explore possibilities, make informed decisions, and gain confidence in selecting pathways that align with their interests. The event will feature interactive exhibits showcasing different career fields, high school student ambassadors who will share insights into academic programs, and opportunities for students to engage with industry professionals.

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Originals

Fredericksburg Students Recognized for Youth Mental Health Advocacy at Virginia General Assembly

By Uriah Kiser

Fredericksburg City Public Schools (FCPS) students and staff were honored at the Virginia General Assembly for their work on the FCPS Youth Mental Health Taskforce. The delegation, invited by State Senator Tara Durant, spent the day in Richmond serving as legislators and meeting with state officials.

The students arrived at the Virginia General Assembly Building at 9:45 a.m. January 29, 2025, where they met with Senator Durant before touring the historic Capitol. They then participated in a Q&A session with legislators, discussing the importance of youth mental health initiatives.

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Schools

NOVEC Accepting Scholarship Applications for High School Seniors

By Uriah Kiser

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) is accepting applications for its college scholarship program. High school seniors whose families receive NOVEC service in Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, and Stafford counties, as well as the City of Manassas Park, are eligible to apply.

Students from public, private, or home schools must submit applications by April 1. Scholarship recipients will receive $1,500 and are automatically eligible for an additional $3,500 J. Manley Garber Scholarship, awarded to the most outstanding applicant.

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News

Education, Not Slot Machines: Lateef’s Plan to Fund Virginia’s Future

By Uriah Kiser

Dr. Babur Lateef, Chairman At-Large of the Prince William County School Board, has entered the race for Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, positioning himself as an education-focused candidate in a crowded Democratic primary. With years of experience overseeing Virginia’s second-largest school division, Lateef brings a track record of pushing for increased teacher pay, improved graduation rates, and infrastructure investments—all issues he hopes to prioritize at the state level.

An Education-First Platform

Lateef, an ophthalmologist and longtime public servant, has served on the Prince William County School Board since 2018. Under his leadership, teacher salaries have increased by 61%, making the county more competitive with neighboring school divisions. Additionally, the county’s graduation rate has risen to 95%, the highest in its history.

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News

Haymarket Town Council to Hold Meeting Tonight, Discuss Key Town Updates

By Uriah Kiser

The Haymarket Town Council is set to meet tonight, Monday, February 3, 2025, at 7 p.m. to receive an update from the town manager on several ongoing projects and initiatives. The meeting will occur at the Council Chambers, located at 15000 Washington St., Suite 100, in Haymarket.

Among the key topics on the agenda, town officials will discuss:

Park Sidewalk Project: Progress continues on the asphalt work, tree planting, and signage installation along Washington Street, with lighting and benches set to be delivered soon.
Stormwater Assessment Program: Officials have identified three major problem areas for stormwater drainage improvements, with full surveying expected to be completed by April 2025.
Town Center Development: Town staff are reviewing the latest submission of the site plan, with discussions focused on prioritization and financing.
Highpointe at Haymarket: The rezoning application for a proposed workforce housing project remains on hold.

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Manassas

Manassas Notes: ARTfactory Wins Big at DC Broadway World Awards, Birmingham Green Welcomes New Leader

By Uriah Kiser
The ARTfactory at 9419 Battle Street in Manassas.

ARTfactory and Birmingham Green made headlines in Manassas this week. ARTfactory’s Rooftop Productions, now Actors Theatre, won seven awards at the 2024 DC Broadway World Awards, including Best Musical for Kinky Boots and Best Choreography for The Rocky Horror Show. ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre also earned recognition, winning Best Theatre for Young Audiences for its production of The Wizard of Oz.

Meanwhile, Birmingham Green, ranked as Northern Virginia’s top nursing home by Newsweek Magazine, announced Duane Smith as its new Nursing Home Administrator, effective December 30, 2024. Smith brings extensive experience from senior living leadership roles across multiple states and holds several professional qualifications. Birmingham Green continues its 90-year mission of providing quality long-term care to Northern Virginians in need.

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News

Stafford County Public Schools Hosts Health and Wellness Fair at Colonial Forge High School

By Uriah Kiser
Hands-on CPR demonstration

On Saturday, February 1, 2024, Stafford County Public Schools hosted its highly anticipated Health and Wellness Fair at Colonial Forge High School, drawing hundreds of community members to participate in a day filled with activities, demonstrations, and fun.

The fair offered attendees a variety of informative experiences, including CPR and “Stop the Bleeding” demonstrations. Participants had the opportunity to engage in hands-on training, learning critical life-saving techniques. One popular demonstration involved a “Stop the Bleed” course, where attendees practiced applying pressure and gauze to a simulated wound, preparing them to respond effectively in an emergency situation.

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Originals

Stafford County Animal Shelter Suspends Dog Adoptions Due to Parvovirus Outbreak

By Uriah Kiser

Stafford County Animal Shelter has announced that it will suspend all dog adoptions and viewings until at least February 15, 2025, due to a confirmed Parvovirus outbreak. One of the shelter’s dogs tested positive for the virus, leading to the closure of the adoption floor for 14 days.

Additionally, all surrender appointments will be rescheduled. The shelter’s top priority remains the safety of its animals, and they are working diligently to contain the virus. The public’s understanding and support during this time are greatly appreciated.

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Publisher's Post

Survey Results Are Incredibly Insightful

By Uriah Kiser
Kiser

I’m thrilled by the responses we’ve received from the reader survey we sent out on Sunday asking for your thoughts on our newsletter. The feedback has been incredible, and some of the numbers humble me.

A remarkable 70% of you have made our daily newsletter a regular part of your routine, and over half of you are “very satisfied” with it. Plus, more than half of you find the content highly relevant to your lives.

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Publisher's Post

Our Newsletter Is Growing – Here’s How You Can Help Us Improve

By Uriah Kiser

Since August 2024, Potomac Local News has seen significant growth in our email newsletter readership, with our audience expanding from 14,747 subscribers in August to 18,252 subscribers in February 2025. This growth highlights the increasing value of our content, and we’re thrilled to see more readers engaging with our daily updates.

Our newsletter performance has been strong, with impressive open rates and engagement. In January 2025, our newsletter reached over 758,000 subscribers, achieving an open rate of 29.3%, with more than 227,000 readers opening the newsletter. This follows a trend of consistent growth, as seen in previous months, with strong open rates in December and November 2024.

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