Morning notes
Road winding: A combined safety and paving project in Stafford County will begin this week to slightly widen shoulders and deliver a smoother travel surface on several secondary roads. [Press release]
Respect the battery: February 18 is Battery Day. A day to pay homage to an everyday item that humans often take for granted. [Press release]
Best in biz: On Thursday, February 24, the Chamber will celebrate 12 years of Excellence in Business for Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park. [Press release]
Dumfries to Kings Dominion: Drivers can expect mobile work zones to remove storm debris from shoulders and median in Stafford, Spotsylvania and Caroline counties this week. [Press release]
NASA chooses Manassas students: A team of students from Metz Middle School was selected as one of 57 winners in an inaugural nationwide challenge designed to attract, engage and prepare future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals. [Press release]
Prince William libraries an innovator: The Urban Libraries Council announced Prince William Public Libraries as one of 10 Top Innovators during the 2021 Innovations Celebration held virtually on January 21. [Press release]
Free rides: Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FRED) will begin fare free service on all routes beginning Monday, February 28, 2022. FRED received grant funding through the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) through the Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP). [Press release]
Fredericksburg VRE improvements: Rehabilitation of the Virginia Railway Express’ (VRE) Fredericksburg station took a step forward on January 21, 2022 when the commuter rail service’s Operations Board approved a task order for construction management services. Construction on the $5 million project is expected to begin this summer, following the selection of a construction contractor. [Press release]
County needs poll workers: Stafford County is looking for more poll workers to help make sure our elections are safe, secure and accessible. [Press release]
Million dollar donation: The Large Rehearsal Hall in the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s Education and Rehearsal Wing, which opened in 2019, will be named The Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall in their honor. [Press release/George Mason University]
Prince William schools sue Youngkin over masks: The Schools Boards of Alexandria City, Arlington County, City of Richmond, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Hampton City and Prince William County, filed a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of Executive Order 2 issued by the governor on January 15, 2022. [Press release]
Another Woodbridge ferry study: The plans for a commuter ferry taking riders from Woodbridge to Washington are moving forward again after being put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a new study on the way that should detail a full understanding of how the proposed system would operate. [Insidenova.com]
Unlikely support: Chesterfield Sen. Amanda Chase has been kicked out of her local Republican party, left the chamber’s Republican Caucus and faced formal censure for baseless claims of election fraud, a vote that saw Republican colleagues openly criticize her on the Senate floor. That hasn’t stopped many of them from supporting her bills to roll back COVID-19 protective measures. [Virginia Mercury]
Volunteer Opportunities: For those who want to give back to the community, several volunteer opportunities are open in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park. [Press release]
Privilege bingo A Fairfax County Public Schools curriculum has students play “privilege” bingo, giving them privilege points if they are white, male, employed or “involved in extra curricular [sic] activities,” or “feel represented in the media.” [The Daily Wire]
Angry about buses: Prince William County Supervisor Victor S. Angry has been elected Chairman of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) Board for 2022. [Press release]
High speed: Stafford and Comcast have partnered on a $5.7 million project to bring high-speed internet to more than 600 unserved or underserved homes in the western part of Stafford County. [Press release]
Sikh center: The Sikh Center of Virginia can move forward with plans to expand its current facility outside Manassas by more than five times its current size following unanimous approval Tuesday from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. [Prince William Times]
Put me in coach: The Washington Nationals announced on Tuesday their minor league coaching assignments for the upcoming 2022 season, including the staff of the Low-A Fredericksburg Nationals. [Press release]
Sustainable hire: Fredericksburg welcomes MacKenzie Bellimam as the new Environmental Sustainability Coordinator and is working in the Environmental Programs section of the Public Works Department. [Press release]
