Neighborhood Notes

MANASSAS PARK, Va. – Heads up if you’re driving or stopping by city services in Manassas Park this week—there are a couple of detours to know about.

The folks at Manassas Park Public Works just told Potomac Local News that sewer line repairs will close parts of Manassas Drive on Monday and Tuesday, August 18–19. Eastbound drivers will be detoured to Mace Street, while westbound traffic will need to follow a longer loop via Mace, Sheldon, and Baker Streets. Signs will be posted, but expect delays and drive carefully.


Neighborhood Notes

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Fredericksburg Nationals are marking National Potato Day with a quirky giveaway. Fans who bring a potato to the ballpark on Tuesday, August 19, at 6:35 p.m. will get a free field seat ticket.

According to the team, every potato collected will be donated to a local food bank. The fan who shows up with the heaviest potato will win $250.


Fredericksburg

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Event

Join the New Dominion Choraliers put on a concert to honor the 250th Anniversary of the USA! The music in this choral concert captures the heart and soul of the American spirit through patriotic tunes and songs from the heartland. Joining the chorus are dancers from Dance Etc. School of the Arts and accompaniment from the talented members of Legacy Brass.

This family friendly and FREE event is perfect for young and old. Kids, parents, and grandparents will be familiar with many of the songs in this inspirational program. There are two opportunities to attend: Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 pm or Sunday, May 3 at 3:30 p.m.


Police Blotter

A woman was stabbed during an attempted abduction in a Wawa gas station bathroom early Saturday morning.

Deputies responded to the store at 4527 Plank Road around 6:30 a.m. on August 16, where they found the victim with a knife wound to her hand. She told investigators the suspect, Austin Wayne Wilson, had hidden in a restroom stall and climbed into hers, displaying a knife and trying to restrain her. Her screams caused him to flee.


Schools

STAFFORD, Va. – Two Stafford schools were briefly placed on lockdown Monday afternoon after a report of a suspicious person on Parkway Boulevard.

According to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the area and secured both Park Ridge Elementary School and North Stafford High School, which together serve nearly 3,000 students, “out of an abundance of caution.” Park Ridge Elementary enrolls about 910 students, while North Stafford High School has about 1,995 students.


Police Blotter

A 47-year-old man was shot in the hand early Sunday morning, August 17, in Gainesville during an unclear altercation with a 60-year-old woman. Police responded around 12:13 a.m. to Bluff Point Court and Pine Knott Court, where they located the injured man and recovered a firearm. The woman was identified at the scene. No charges have been announced as the investigation continues.

In Bristow, police have charged a 17-year-old from Aldie with Assault by Mob in connection with a July 25 attack at Jiffy Lube Live. A group attacked the 16-year-old victim after a concert. The teen suspect is the first to be charged in the case.


Features

MANASSAS, Va. – The folks at Dunkin’ just told Potomac Local News they’re throwing a grand opening bash for their brand-new “Next Gen” restaurant on Liberia Avenue—and the first 100 people in line could snag free coffee for a year.

It’s all happening Saturday, August 23, from 9 to 11 a.m., at 9502 Liberia Ave. The celebration kicks off with a ribbon-cutting at 9:30 a.m., followed by giveaways, a prize wheel, face painting, music, and a visit from the Dunkin’ mascot. Local franchise owner Andy Cabral will also present a $1,000 donation to the House of Mercy.


Poll

Prince William Forest Park has a unique history. Unlike most national parks, it wasn’t created by a single law. Instead, its land was transferred to the National Park Service on November 14, 1936, as the Chopawamsic Recreational Demonstration Project. Four years later, on August 13, 1940, Public Law 763 officially put the project on the path to becoming part of the national park system. By 1948, it was officially renamed Prince William Forest Park.

Eighty-five years after that key 1940 milestone, we’re asking:
If you could rename the park today, what would you call it?