Originals

The deadline for employees of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center to get vaccinated for the coronavirus has passed.

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Originals

Vice President Kamala Harris called on voters to give Terry McAuliffe four more years in the governor’s mansion in Richmond.

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News

Manassas City Hall will undergo its first-ever renovation starting in April 2022.

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News

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors has voted to defer the decision to return funding meant for the final phase of the Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail until November.

The board had agreed at its meeting on Sept. 21 to cancel the sixth and final phase of the project to complete the trail. The two-mile trail runs winds through the southern section of the county and the Historic Port of Falmouth Park.

The reasons cited for this canceling the final phase of the trail were a lack of funding to complete the project and issues regarding topography, land acquisition, and approvals from the Virginia Department of Transportation. The board plans to revisit the matter with a revised letter to VDOT at their next meeting Nov. 16.

There were also concerns made by residents regarding the planned route of the trail. One option would have been to extend the course across Business Route 3 and to end at the Ferry Farm Shopping Center. Many residents were concerned about the potential safety hazards of crossing Route 3. At the same time, there were objections from area residents about the planned end of the trail being built in their neighborhood.

"I know that people in South Stafford were so passionate about having the trail extended, and I know that we were not successful in doing that," said Falmouth District Supervisor Meg Bohmke. "For the record, I don't think it makes a whole lot of sense to move the trail over to the side of the Dairy Queen. Because then you have people who have to traverse across (Route 3) again, and the one goal in Stafford County is public safety, so why would we have people traversing two times across a road?

The result of the project's cancelation would be the return of funds by the County to VDOT in the amount of $130,000. The board decided to defer at the request of George Washington District Supervisor Tom Coen, who noted that the letter's language regarding the canceled project didn't leave any room to get the funding back should the county decide to revisit the project in the future.

Since it appears the trail plans will not be moving forward, the county also plans to apply for federal funding for other sidewalk projects for Salisbury Drive in North Stafford and the Foreston Woods neighborhood.

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Neighborhood Notes

Good morning. Here’s a look at what’s happening in our area today.

Parents rally: Lt. Governor candidate Winsome Sears will be in North Stafford on Friday, October 22, joining Rep. Rob Wittman for a rally to support parents rights when it comes to their right to be involved in their child’s education in public schools. The GOP-led event will take place at Coffee Bar 1010 at the Quantico Corporate Center, from 6 to 8 p.m. This is the second appearance of a top-of-the-ticket candidate in Stafford County this week, after Glenn Younkin rallied more than 100 people outside the county government center on Tuesday.


Obituaries

Henry Clinton Smith was born on February 25, 1927, in Florence South Carolina to the late Frank and Rena Smith.  He transitioned  after a brief convalescence on October 14, 2021.  He was the sixth child of ten children, He attended Wilson High School. He joined the Army at a young age and served in World War 2.   He was married to the late Mary Lee Moses Smith for 69 years. To this union twelve children were born. They lived and raised their children in Florence, S.C., Washington D.C, and they lived in the boroughs of New York for several decades.

Mr. Henry was a diligent worker. He supported his family by working 6-7 days a week on two jobs. He worked in Graphics Arts and in the security field until he retired in 1996. The family sold their home in New York and relocated to Virginia at this time. He loved his family and enjoyed fishing, crossword puzzles, watching baseball, football, and all sports as well as westerns on television. He enjoyed singing and entertaining at family reunions and weddings and when he heard a song that he liked on the radio he would often get up and start singing the song.


Obituaries

Emerald Wallace, 65, of Woodbridge, VA, passed away on October 9, 2021.

Emerald was born in Harlem, New York to William A. Wallace and Martha Wallace on September 18, 1956.  She was the oldest of five girls born out of that union.  Emerald completed her early education at Commander Shea Memorial School in East Harlem and later, attended Fashion Industries High School in Manhattan, NY.  She continued her education at Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, NY.  Later in life, she completed coursework as a massage therapist.