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Editors note: “People on the Move” is a post which recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Virginia natives as they make their way in the world.

Bristow

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QUANTICO — The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation has announced the launch of its annual Summer Concert Series at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

The series, now in its 10th year, features six concerts over nine weeks with performances from members of the U. S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Army bands.

The United States Navy Concert Band will kick off the Summer Concert Series on June 27 at 7 p.m. with an array of marches, patriotic selections, orchestral transcriptions, and modern wind ensemble repertoire.

As the original ensemble of the Navy Band, the Navy Concert Band has been performing and participating for over 85 years.

The Series continues July 11 with a performance by the United States Navy Band Commodores, a jazz ensemble.

The 18-member ensemble will perform an eclectic mix of traditional big band music, jazz vocal arrangements, and new instrumental music.

On July 25, the United States Army Band Downrange will perform. Downrange is known for their modern repertoire of rock, pop, country, R&B, and signature patriotic arrangements.

The fourth performance, on August 1, spotlights the United States Navy Band Cruisers.

The Cruisers play a range of genres including jazz and standards, rhythm and blues, classic rock, adult contemporary, and pop, as well as original material.

The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters will perform on August 22.

The Navy’s official chorus, the ensemble performs music ranging from traditional choral fare to opera, Broadway, and contemporary music.

They perform publicly across the United States as well as for the President, Vice President, and numerous other domestic and foreign dignitaries.

On August 29, the Series concludes with a performance by the Quantico Marine Corps Band. Made up of 50 musicians, this is one of the oldest bands in the U.S. Marine Corps.

The concerts will be held outdoors on the National Museum of the Marine Corps entry plaza, weather permitting.

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. Admission and parking are free.

Concessions will be available and the Museum gift store and Tun Tavern will remain open until the concerts begin.

In case of inclement weather, the concert may be moved inside to the Museum’s Leatherneck Gallery.

Photo: Marine Corps Heritage Foundation Facebook

Good Morning Prince William – Historic Manassas needs volunteers for their Annual Jazz Festival on Saturday, June 15. There are two shifts for manning the front gate and guest services either 10:45 p.m. to 3 p.m. or 2:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. They also need someone to man the stage check-in from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please email Melissa to learn more.

• Helping Neighbors in Need Outreach Center needs an administrative assistant to help in the Woodbridge office Monday through Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Duties include answering phones, registering clients, receiving donations, and logging them in. Please call Pastor Edmonds at (703) 964-7725 to learn more.
• SERVE has an urgent need for 6 to 8 volunteers to prepare and serve brunch and dinner to 92 residents on the 4th of July. They have a grill you may use if you want to do a traditional cookout. Please email Julie to learn more. They also need volunteers to prepare dinner on Aug. 18 and Aug. 31 as well as brunch on Aug. 25.
• Project Mend A House provides home repairs and a safety improvement to seniors’ homes. They need both skilled and unskilled volunteers throughout the community. Please visit their website to learn more and to register as a volunteer.
• Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District needs volunteers at a host of projects this summer including: June 22 Annual Occoquan clean-up at Belmont Bay. Please RSVP to Myra. June 29 at Powell’s Creek in the Montclair area. Please RSVP to Buck. Aug. 3 at Broad Run/Dawkins Branch. Please RSVP to Sonnie via email or via text to (703) 216-6959. Aug. 10 at Manassas National Battlefield for the NOVA Water Quality Monitors Certification Training. Please email Veronica to register and learn more.
• The Boys and Girls Club in Dumfries is looking for coaches this summer for basketball and volleyball teams. The program starts the week of June 17. Coaches must be 18 years or older and assistant coaches must be 16 years or older. Please call Judy Moore at (703) 441-0611 ext. 2617 to learn more.
• SERVE needs volunteers to help with their summer reading program on Tuesdays and Fridays. Volunteers need to be 16 years or older. Duties include creating and running literary games, inputting client data for tracking outcomes, and helping with kids. Please email Navara to learn more.
• Merrimac Farm needs volunteers to weed, prune, water plants, and clean up. Volunteers should wear long pants, long socks, and sturdy shoes. Workdays this summer are June 22 and July 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. Please RSVP via email or via text to (703) 490-5200.
• The National Museum of the Marine Corps needs volunteers to become gallery docents and hospitality ambassadors. Volunteers must be age 16 years or older. Please register online.
• Keep Prince William Beautiful needs volunteers to present programs to the campers at Veterans Park this summer. Please email them to learn more.
• BEACON Adult Literacy needs volunteers for their summer conversations program July 16 through Aug. 1 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 and evenings from 7 to 9. Please email to learn more.
• Novant UVA Health System needs volunteers in their surgical services at the Manassas and Haymarket hospitals. They also need volunteers at the Aubergine Thrift Store in Old Town Manassas. Please call (571) 284-1278 or visit their website to learn more.
• Area Agency on Aging needs volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels midday in both the Manassas and Woodbridge communities. Meals are delivered Monday through Friday. They also need volunteer activity assistants at the Adult Day Healthcare Center for activities such as chess, checkers, dominos, bingo, and playing musical instruments. Please visit their website for more info.
• The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is looking for volunteers’ 55 years or older to deliver noon meals through the Meals on Wheels Program. Shifts are just 2 to 3 hours and available in throughout the greater area. RSVP members receive a mileage reimbursement and additional insurance coverage at no cost to the volunteer. Please call Jan at (571) 292-5307 to learn more.

If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call my wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William. Jan can help you with the Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP) opportunities at (703) 369-5292 ext. 1, Shelley can help with any individual or group projects and send you weekly updates if you’d like. Shelley is at (703) 369-5292 ext. 2, and Bonnie can help you with opportunities available in Disaster Preparedness at (703) 369-5292 ext. 3. Please visit our website. Thanks so much for all you do in our community.

Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt is a poetry and prose writer who has lived in Prince William County since 1999. She has published six books and is working on a seventh. Learn more about her at KatherineGotthardt.com, and follow her work on Facebook by searching #KatherinesCoffeehouse.

By Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt

Snooze is a funny word. Say it out loud. Look at it. Who came up with such a strange word for lightly sleeping?

Dictionaries say unknown origin, may be related to the sound of “snore.” Snooze, snore—is that how you’re getting through life?

I’m not one to judge. I often snooze on the couch, even for a few moments. I don’t sleep as well as I used to. Everything hurts. Everything itches. Everything is just not right. Ever feel that way about life, that everything is an annoying itch or just plain painful?

I think it’s normal from time to time. OK. Set the timer. Take a nap.

Ugh. Did it go off already?

That means I have to get back to work.

Quick. Hit the snooze button again.

Is this how you’re living your life, physically or metaphorically? If so, you know already what it can do to your inspiration and motivation. Sure, sleep is essential if you want to be able to tune in to the gods or the muse or the birds or whatever speaks to you.

And truth be told, what gets you out of bed might be something like the kids fighting or the dog whining. Or maybe you sleep well but wake up tired and say, “Bloody hell! I’m late…again!”

Oh, the agony of waking up sometimes. It’s no wonder you keep hitting the snooze button. But that’s actually really bad for your brain, say the experts. You think you’re getting extra sleep, but you’re not. There’s not enough time between alarms for you to slip into REM and stay there.

You’re just wasting time. And you’re probably making yourself late, stressing yourself out as a result. Or the kids are going to start strangling each other or the dog is about to pee on the floor. Better to motivate yourself to get up and live your best day.

Here’s what you can do instead of hitting the snooze button. Try it, even if it’s just for ten seconds:

1.   Open your eyes and stare at something. Anything. Reorient yourself to the real world.
2.   Think of what you need to do, the thing you’re dreading, the thing you’re avoiding. (It could be something as simple as getting in the shower.)
3.   Now think of your higher purpose. That’s right. Make that leap and do it fast.
4.   What? Don’t believe you have a higher purpose? Don’t know what it is? Well, then you’ve got some work to do. Ask yourself why you don’t believe or don’t know.
5.   By this time, you’re either A, in an existential quandary, in which case your mind is far more alert or B, motivated enough to jump or roll out of bed. Either way, you’re in better shape for getting up.

See? Instead of snoozing, you fed yourself a quick breakfast of motivation and inspiration. And that will be reflected in the work you do and how you do it.

Remember, hitting snooze is just a crappy coping mechanism. No one really wants to go through life every day, longing to get back to bed. While sleep is necessary, and good sleep feels good, sleep isn’t the higher purpose, the thing itself. So don’t keep hitting snooze.

Funny how flat the button,

so easy to lay a finger on,

and with the lightest touch,

lose moments of our lives.

What if we never hit snooze?

Good morning.

Until next time,

Katherine

Jacqueline Gaston wants to bring her more than 25 years of educational experience to the School Board Coles District. She wants to improve teacher retention and educational equity.

Name: Jacqueline Gaston

Party: Independent

Town: Manassas

Running for: Prince William County School Board — Coles District

Website: jg4pwcsboard.org, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

Work: Career and Transition Teacher

Education: University of Connecticut B.S. in Human Development and Family Relations, Central Connecticut State University Special Education Teaching Certificate Post Graduate, George Mason University Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.

Community Involvement: For the last 10 years, Jacqueline Gaston has worked to protect public values, foster change and make a difference in the community.  She strongly believes that civic engagement is critical to strengthening our public education system. At Yorkshire Elementary, a very diverse Title 1 school, she served on the Parent Teacher Organization for 7 years, 3 of those years as their PTO President, as well as on the School Advisory Council, School Counselling Committee and as a parent volunteer.  They worked to develop strong relationships with students, families and staff in order to create a safe and enjoyable academic environment where all students are supported academically, emotionally, and culturally.

Gaston served on the PWCS Principal’s Interview Panel for the Yorkshire Elementary School Principal selection. During this time she also worked closely with Marty Nohe, Coles District Supervisor, to create the Yorkshire Civic Association with the goal of bringing together residents, community businesses, schools and local government officials interested in neighborhood improvement.

While at Parkside Middle School, she served as the School Advisory Committee (SAC) Secretary for 4 years and currently as their President for the 2018-2019 academic year.  Their goal is to promote communication between PKMS staff and the community in order to work together for instructional program planning purposes and strategic planning.  Gaston participated in the Comprehensive Review of PWCS Special Education Pre-K – Grade 12 programs in 2018, as well as attended the Superintendents Advisory Council on Instruction Best Practices Conference at Ashland Elementary School for the 2016-2017 school year and again on February 14, 2019 at Forest Park High School.

At PKMS her children participated in the Cambridge Program, World Language Program, Global Perspectives, the Music Program, Athletics, Special Education Program and their award winning VEX Robotics and Botball Program. During these elementary school and middle school years, Gaston taught Religious Education for All Saints Catholic Church and coached soccer for Northern Virginia Soccer Association.

Since Fall 2017, she has served on the Principal’s Advisory Council at Osbourn Park High School. The Principal’s Advisory Council (PAC) involves open chair time where topics and questions can be discussed directly with the Principal. Agenda items are also discussed as part of the school’s strategic plan. She and her family continue to support the OPHS BioTechnology Program, OPHS Music Boosters, OPHS Athletic Boosters, OPHS PTSO and as of next year the NJROTC Program.  All three boys will be at OPHS as of Fall 2019.

In the Fall 2018, she attended the Superintendent’s Business Breakfast hosted by Dr. Walts and attended the CTE Career Connections Event at the Edward Kelly Center. She was invited to the PWCS 2019 Outstanding Educators Reception at Colgan HS and the PWCS Best Practices Conference at Forest Park High School on February 14th.

Questions and Answers

PL: What are the top three major issues facing the district you wish to represent? 

Gaston: Advocating for more educational resources, educational equity and opportunity, and closing achievement gaps.

PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues?

Gaston: Improving teacher retention in particular in under performing schools, enhancing educational resources to close the achievement gaps, and promoting equity for the entire school system so all students can achieve and have the same opportunities.

PL: From your perspective, what is the job description of the office you’re seeking?

Gaston: A school board member is a leader and champion for education in their community. Together the school board should establish a community of lifelong learners, responsible citizens and create champions of global success. They should promote a sense of community with high expectations and high academic achievements for all students.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Gaston: Twenty five years of educational experience and training, community advocacy and understanding of the educational community.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Gaston: My goal is transparency with my constituents through communicating with the Coles Community about their specific needs. I want them to be comfortable coming to me with questions and concerns, and not worry that I am pushing some hidden political agenda. I want to be their voice on the school board who represents our community’s diverse needs in PWCS decisions.

PL: Have you ever made any mistakes in your public life? How have they affected you?

Gaston: No.

PL: Our readers want leaders in local government. Why should they vote for you?

Gaston: I have worked in education for twenty five years with a boots on the ground approach. I want to bring my extensive school system experience and education to PWCS. I am the change we need in the Coles District and the voice we deserve. I am passionate and committed to working hard for PWCS.  I am not a career politician by any means, but I do believe wholeheartedly in the sanctity of public education and providing a world class education for all students. I am dedicated to learning all aspects of PWCS to better serve our community. You can look forward to my continued work PWCS. The best is yet to come.

Andrea Bailey, a local small business owner, is running for the Prince William Board of County Supervisors for the Potomac District. She brings more than 17 years of community involvement and a strong focus on mental health services.

Name: Andrea Bailey

Party: Democrat

Town: Dumfries

Running for: Prince William County Board of Supervisors — Potomac District

Website: voteandreabailey.com, Twitter, Facebook

Work: Small Business Owner, Affairs Remembered LLC

Education: Bachelor of Science in Media Studies from Webster University Masters of Science in Human Resource Management and Development from National-Louis University

Community Involvement: Andrea Bailey has been involved in the community for more than 17 years and has gained extensive experience serving the citizens of the Commonwealth as a member of the Governor’s transition team (2018), and a member of the Virginia Board of Psychology.

Bailey has worked to protect Prince William County’s environment as a member of the Wetlands Commission and by registering more than 10,000 voters as a member of the League of Conservation Voters.

She serves the community as a board member of the non-partisan Committee of 100, the Prince William County Boys and Girls Club, and Project Mend-A-House. She is also a recipient of the professional Leaders Award from Dale City Christian Church.

Questions and Answers

PL: What are the top three major issues facing the district you wish to represent? 

Bailey: Transportation, Economic Development, and Mental Health

PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues?

Bailey: Transportation – I will collaborate with our State representatives, Fairfax County, and other stakeholders to extend metro rail services to Prince William County.

Economic Development – I will collaborate with the County Board of Supervisors and the Chamber of Commerce to focus on job training programs in Prince William County to ensure initiatives align. We must work with local community colleges to create programs that will produce the skills needed to satisfy the workforce demands of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia. I will lobby for providing start-up incentives to aspiring small business owners such as providing business owners counseling, and access to small business grants and other financial resources.

Mental Health – We must continue to sufficiently fund programs for our neighbors who are suffering from or are at risk of developmental delays, learning disabilities, substance abuse, and mental illness. Ensuring adequate special education teachers and school counselors are hired is critical to addressing this subject with our children. As our population grows, our need for mental health treatment facilities, homeless shelters, elder and childcare facilities, and family service centers must also grow at an equal rate.

PL: From your perspective, what is the job description of the office you’re seeking?

Bailey: Beyond the technical responsibilities of development and approval of annual budgets, legislative activities, and managing the development of land use, the foremost responsibility of the Office of County Supervisor is to represent all people of the county; to hear and work tirelessly to address their needs and improve their quality of life. The office is also responsible for being good stewards of taxpayer dollars and to always operate with the utmost integrity, transparency, and professionalism.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Bailey: The experience I gained at Fortune 100 companies not only sharpened my business acumen, but also provided critical insights that have defined my vision for transportation initiatives to address regional congestion. As a small business owner I understand the challenges that small business owners face. My experience working with a lot of nonprofits showed me the importance of bringing awareness and attention to current community issues by engaging in non-partisan dialogue with elected officials.

As the primary caregiver for my mother, I am keenly aware of the demands of providing a safe, healthy and productive environment for aging seniors. My diverse background of experiences has taught me how to think strategically, and work with people of all backgrounds and views to find common purpose where we can work to improve our community together.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Bailey: Participation in the political process is a personal choice. Given the multiple mediums of communications like television, internet, and social media, access is plentiful. I’m available on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For those who prefer public engagements, I issue press releases to educate and inform the public of issues that impact our community, and hold town halls for community input on concerns facing the county.

PL: Have you ever made any mistakes in your public life? How have they affected you?

Bailey: I’ve never made a public facing mistake. I’ve always strived to avoid mistakes of judgment, ethics, and morality. When I make mistakes, I’ve always used them as an opportunity to learn from them, and never repeat them.

PL: Our readers want leaders in local government. Why should they vote for you?

Bailey: I am a community leader and I’ve been working to advance this community for the last 17 years. From my work on the Virginia Commonwealth Board of Psychology, to my work at Project Mend a House, or my committed involvement in my church, I have been leading and working at all levels of our community.

I’m asking the people to vote for me because my wealth of experience leading at all levels, and because of my many existing relationships with State and Local Officials, and community leaders that will help us address the challenges of transportation, economic development, and mental health that our country faces.

Rhonda Dickson, retired Prince William County Deputy, seeks the position of Prince William County Sheriff. Morale and officer safety are some of her top priorities.

Name: Rhonda Dickson

Party: Independent

Town: Woodbridge

Running for: Prince William County Sheriff

Website: rhondadicksonforsheriff.com, Facebook

Work: Retired Prince William County Deputy
Part time at Mission BBQ as the Community Ambassador

Education: Trinity Temple Academy

Community Involvement: Rhonda Dickson is an active member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Questions and Answers

PL: What are the top three major issues facing the district you wish to represent? 

Dickson: 1. Morale and manning 2. Officer safety 3. Building security

PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues?

Dickson: 1. Ensure employees have a voice and their concerns are heard and addressed.
2. Equip all cruisers with spotlights for officer safety during night time traffic stops. Future cruisers will also have climate control in the rear of the vehicles for humane transport of inmates and mental health consumers.
3. Create a K-9 unit for drug and explosives detection. Since 1983, there have been no major security upgrades to the Judicial Center. There are items that need to be addressed ASAP, but I will not discuss in the open because it will put the employees and citizens that come and go on a daily basis at risk.

PL: From your perspective, what is the job description of the office you’re seeking?

Dickson: The Sheriff’s Office has three primary functions: Courthouse Security, Transportation and Civil Process. The Sheriff must also uphold the Constitution of Virginia to the utmost of their ability and answer to the citizens of Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park who elected them.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Dickson: I have 15 and a half years of experience with Prince William County Police Department. There I was a patrol officer, Emergency Vehicle Operations Center instructor and a Motor Officer. I was with the Sheriff’s Office for more than six years assigned to the Mental Health Transportation Unit and Courtroom Security as a Bailiff.

I am retired from the D.C. Air National Guard where I was Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist and earned a Meritorious Service metal. I have a diverse background, which provides me the experience needed to the office.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Dickson: Overall I believe the average citizen understands local government. For those that don’t, I will ensure that I am out and about meeting and greeting as many citizens as I can and involving myself in as many Community events as I possible can.

PL: Have you ever made any mistakes in your public life? How have they affected you?

Dickson: I certainly have. I learn from those mistakes and ensure I don’t make the same ones again. That’s how you grow as a person.

PL: Our readers want leaders in local government. Why should they vote for you?

Boddye: I bring something that has been lacking in that office for too many years — empathy for our employees and the citizens of Prince William County. I will employee a diverse group of people, keeping their needs and the needs of the citizens in mind. I will listen to the concerns of the citizens and address them to the best of my ability.

I have committed my life to public service for more than 42 years combined, and I’m not ready to stop. My heart belongs to my native Prince William County and I am ready to take on the challenges that she has for me.