STAFFORD COUNTY — Behind the doors of a conference room in Howell Library, formerly England Run, Moms Demand Action held a panel discussion on gun violence.
Fourteen people attended and voiced their insights and concerns regarding gun violence in the community. There were three panelists at the event: “community mom” Eunice Haigler, Captain Lee Peters from the Sheriff Office, and Joshua Cole, assistant pastor and local NAACP chapter president for Stafford County.
STAFFORD — The Stafford County School Board will move forward with its effort to change the attendance boundaries of every elementary school in the county.
The school division will now look at two of three new redistricting proposals, plans C and E. Each School Board member has the ability to make changes to the plans that were selected.
MANASSAS — Vikings will return again to the most unlikely city: Manassas.
“I’ve just always wanted to do something Nordic,” said Erna Pomrenke, a city resident and founder of the Manassas Viking Festival.
STAFFORD — The Stafford County Board of Supervisors will seek cash to help dredge Aquia Harbor.
At its February 19 meeting, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved to file grant application on behalf of the Aquia Harbour Property Owners Association (AHPOA), which manages a gated community of 2,300 homes along the Aquia Creek in North Stafford.
STAFFORD — Superintendent Scott Kizner’s Fiscal Budget for the 2019-20 school year proposes a 22.45 percent increase in funding for guidance services in Stafford’s public schools. The total budget requested for the guidance program is $8.5 million.
Funding for guidance services come from both state and local funds. Included in the budget are salaries, benefits, professional development, conference fees, and instructional supplies.
QUANTICO — Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer came to Quantico to speak about the demons of depression.
The 30-year-old Marine spoke at the “Heroes Among Us” event Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. He shared his story of loss, and recovery after losing his fellow Marines in a gunfight, and later, his marriage.
HAYMARKET — Prince William County officials tried to convince Haymarket-area residents they didn’t want to widen a series of country roads where many have their homes.
Residents who live along Old Carolina, Thoroughfare, and Carver roads packed Haymarket Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2019, to make it clear they didn’t want wider streets, or low and medium -density development as called for by the current county comprehensive plan approved back in the early 2000s.
STAFFORD — Once a main priority for the Stafford County School Board, setting a new transgender bathroom policy will have to wait.
The issue in recent weeks has gotten pushed aside as the School Board instead focuses on making and approving its 2020 budget and tries to make good on a promise to redistrict and every elementary school in the county.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — The proposed Prince William County budget would significantly increase spending for the Office of Elections by nearly $800,000, targeting issues that led to voter complaints in 2018 just in time for the 2020 presidential primary.
County Executive Christopher Martino presented his budget proposal for fiscal year 2020 to the Board of County Supervisors, telling board members the increased funding includes about $300,000 for the March 2020 presidential primary plus another $400,000 for Election Day equipment.
FREDERICKSBURG — Baseball in Fredericksburg took a big step forward as the Fredericksburg Baseball Club held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $35 million multi-purpose stadium that will be the new home of the Potomac Nationals.
The owner of the Minor League Baseball team, Art Silber and his family, Mayor Mary Kathrine Greenlaw and City Council members attended, along with others who played a key role in bringing baseball to the city.
