News - Page 15 of 1912 - Potomac Local News

New Road Nearly Ready to Roll in North Woodbridge

Published May 8, 2025 at 8:00AM

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – A major transportation project in North Woodbridge is almost finished, promising smoother travel and better connections across the growing area.

Prince William County officials recently celebrated the near-completion of the Annapolis Way/North Woodbridge Mobility Improvements Project, a $9.5 million effort designed to improve vehicle, bike, and pedestrian access. Once fully open in the coming weeks, the project will allow drivers to travel the full length of Annapolis Way between Route 123 (Gordon Boulevard) and Route 1 (Richmond Highway), improving mobility and advancing long-term redevelopment goals.

Fresh Produce, Local Goods Coming to Woodbridge Hospital Parking Lot Every Thursday

By Potomac Local News

Published May 7, 2025 at 3:00PM

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – A new farmers market is sprouting up at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, bringing fresh food and community spirit to the heart of Woodbridge.

Starting Thursday, June 5, 2025, the Long Family Farmers Market will operate weekly from 2 to 7 p.m. in the hospital’s main parking lot at 2300 Opitz Boulevard. The market will run every Thursday through September.

Major Kevin Hughart Retires After 35 Years; Major Jaime Pavol Steps Up as New Assistant Chief

By Potomac Local News

Published May 7, 2025 at 2:00PM

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – After more than three decades of dedicated service, Major Kevin Hughart is retiring from the Prince William County Police Department, closing a chapter defined by integrity, mentorship, and community leadership. Stepping into his role is Major Jaime Pavol, a 22-year department veteran and county native who will serve as the new Assistant Chief of the Support Services Division.

Major Hughart began his public service in the U.S. Army, serving four years with the elite 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard.” In 1989, he joined the Prince William County Police Department and graduated from session #74 of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy. He started his career in Eastern District Operations as a patrol officer, later becoming an auto theft detective.

Catch This Panel on the Future of News at Manassas Museum

By Potomac Local News

Published May 7, 2025 at 1:00PM | Updated May 7, 2025 at 1:35PM

A panel of local journalists and media experts will take center stage at the Manassas Museum on Thursday, May 15, 2025, to explore how nonstop news, citizen reporting, and social media are reshaping the world of journalism.

The event, titled “News Reboot: When News Went Live,” is hosted by the Prince William Committee of 100 as part of its annual membership meeting. It runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and features a catered buffet dinner alongside a discussion on how the news industry is evolving—and what that means for civic trust and public accountability.

Lake Anna’s Summer Safety Plan: More Testing, Public Warnings After 2024 Illnesses

By Kelly Sienkowski

Published May 7, 2025 at 11:00AM | Updated May 7, 2025 at 1:35PM

As Memorial Day approaches, local officials are ramping up safety efforts at Lake Anna in response to last summer’s E. coli outbreak that left two dozen people sick—most of them children.

In the summer of 2024, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported a total of 25 cases of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections associated with Lake Anna. The majority of these cases occurred among children under 18 years old. Five of the affected children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication requiring hospitalization.

Help Name the Horse at Laudenbach Brewing’s Taproom

By Potomac Local News

Published May 7, 2025 at 10:00AM | Updated May 7, 2025 at 1:35PM

STAFFORD, Va. – Brewing wants your help naming a key part of its identity—the horse in its logo.

In a playful twist, the family-owned brewery announced it never gave the horse a name and is now turning to customers to fix that. Through May 18, guests visiting the taproom can submit their best name ideas by writing them down and dropping them into the suggestion box at the bar. The brewery’s owners will narrow the list to five finalists.

From Discovery to Burial: Fredericksburg Honors Long-Lost Civil War Soldiers

By Jazbia Chaudhry

Published May 7, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated May 7, 2025 at 1:35PM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The remains of three U.S. soldiers, believed to have died during the first Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862, were formally buried last week in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Their discovery during a 2015 excavation project on Sophia Street set off years of archaeological work, historical research, and coordination between the City of Fredericksburg and the National Park Service.

According to the city, the burial took place on May 2 after the remains were identified as those of U.S. soldiers using DNA analysis, radiocarbon dating, and military artifacts such as uniform buttons. In 2017, Fredericksburg officials formally requested that the remains be interred in the national cemetery. Since the cemetery has been closed to new burials since 1945, several investigations were needed to identify a clear burial site — a process delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and not completed until late 2023.

Aging Gracefully Expo at Potomac Mills Set to Connect Seniors with Local Resources

By Potomac Local News

Published May 7, 2025 at 8:00AM

Now in partnership once again, the Prince William Chamber of Commerce and the Prince William Area Agency on Aging are co-hosting the event as part of Older Americans Month. The goal: to build stronger connections between seniors and local businesses that serve their needs.

“We’ve doubled the number of vendors this year,” said Chamber CEO Bob Sweeney, “allowing us to highlight a diverse range of local businesses that offer valuable resources to support our aging community.”

Don’t Miss These Concerts and Events at Harris Pavilion

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published May 6, 2025 at 3:00PM

The Harris Pavilion will host dozens of events this summer. [Courtesy of the City of Manassas]

The city is kicking off the first of its Summer Concert Series on Tuesday at 7 p.m. with the Shane Gamble Duo. But this isn’t the only Tuesday concert.

Manassas is hosting an “Acoustic Tuesday” concert each week at 7 p.m. until Sept. 9, along with “Fresh Music Fridays,” “Saturday Night Concert Series” and “Sunday Funday Concerts.”

Kids Climbed, Honked, and Smiled at Touch-a-Truck Events in Prince William and Stafford

By Potomac Local News

Published May 6, 2025 at 10:30AM

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Two communities in Northern Virginia celebrated big wheels and loud horns this weekend, giving children the chance to get hands-on with the vehicles they usually only see driving by.

In Prince William County, Veterans Memorial Park in Woodbridge welcomed more than 1,000 visitors on Saturday, May 3, 2025, for its annual Touch-a-Truck event. Children of all ages climbed inside fire engines, police cruisers, dump trucks, and more — even getting the chance to honk the horns and meet the men and women who operate them. Hosted as a free community event, it proved to be a hit once again, with organizers already planning next year’s return on Saturday, May 2, 2026.