News

Himalayan Grill Opens in Haymarket with Grand Ribbon Cutting Celebration

By Potomac Local News

HAYMARKET, Va. — The Town of Haymarket welcomed a flavorful new addition to its dining scene on Friday, April 19, with the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Himalayan Grill, located at 6624 Watts Rd, Haymarket.

Mayor TracyLynn Pater, joined by Police Chief Allen Sibert, members of the Town Council, police officers, local business owners, family, and friends, helped celebrate the occasion. The ribbon was ceremoniously cut by Mayor Pater and Aanvi Thapa, the 8-year-old daughter of owners Nepal and Anita Thapa, who are longtime Gainesville residents.

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Pets

Meet Drac: The Pup with the Perfect Head Tilt Looking for a Forever Home

By Potomac Local News

Who could resist this adorable head tilt?

Drac is a charming, curious pup currently available for adoption at the City of Manassas Animal Adoption Center. With one look, he’ll melt your heart—and he’s hoping you’ll find him as irresistible in person as he is in photos.

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Event

Afternoon Matinee Movie – Under the Tuscan Sun (at BlackRock Center For The Arts)

BlackRock Center For The Arts

12901 Town Commons Dr

Germantown, Maryland 20874

Website Contact Social

Join us for a delightful Sunday afternoon at the BlackRock Center for the Arts as Cruise Planners Beth & Rod present a special travel-inspired matinee featuring the beloved film Under the Tuscan Sun.

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

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Manassas Park

Developers Reduce Density, Add Trail Connection in Latest Mayfield Crossing Plans

By Potomac Local News
A rendering of the proposed Mayfield Crossing development shows its location near Manassas Drive and Signal View Drive. The image, presented during the Manassas Park Governing Body meeting on April 15, 2025, highlights nearby amenities including Signal Hill Park, the VRE Manassas Park Station, and downtown Manassas Park. (Image: City of Manassas Park meeting agenda)

MANASSAS PARK, Va. — A major residential project proposed just outside Manassas Park’s borders is moving through its second round of review in Prince William County, and city leaders are taking a close look at the plan’s potential impact on local roads and services.

Representatives from D.R. Horton, the developer behind the Mayfield Crossing project, and attorney Noah Klein of Venable LLP presented an updated site plan to the Manassas Park Governing Body during its April 15, 2025, meeting. The project site, approximately 20 acres located at the intersection of Manassas Drive and Signal View Drive, is nearly surrounded by Manassas Park city limits.

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Manassas

Electra.aero Secures $115 Million to Launch Ultra Short Takeoff Aircraft

By Potomac Local News
Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short aircraft. [Photo courtesy of Electra]

Led by Prysm Capital, the funding round brings on Jay Park as a new board member. The EL9 uses blown-lift and hybrid-electric technology to offer the agility of a helicopter, the quiet of an electric vehicle, and the cost-efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft. Electra has already secured over 2,200 pre-orders worth more than $10 billion and is working with the U.S. military through multiple SBIR contracts to explore defense applications.

Electra’s CEO, Marc Allen, says the EL9 represents a leap forward in advanced air mobility, with capabilities that can transform commercial air travel and military logistics alike.

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Press Release

Five Displaced on Easter After Fire on Smith Street in Stafford

By Potomac Local News
Firefighters gather outside a single-story home in the 400 block of Smith Street after quickly bringing a structure fire under control. Five people were displaced in the April 20, 2025 blaze. Photo courtesy: Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department

A fire on Easter evening displaced five residents from a single-family home in the 400 block of Smith Street, near Brooke Road in Stafford County. Fire and rescue crews from Stafford and Fredericksburg responded to the scene just before 6 p.m. and quickly brought the blaze under control within 20 minutes.

One person was home at the time and safely evacuated after being alerted by neighbors. Two individuals were treated on scene for minor smoke inhalation. The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office.

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Manassas

Civil War-Era Artillery Shell Unearthed at Historic Liberia House in Manassas

By Potomac Local News
A Civil War-era Schenkl artillery shell, still unexploded, was uncovered during stream restoration work behind the Liberia House in Manassas. The shell was safely removed and documented by authorities. [Photo: Manassas Museum]

MANASSAS, Va. — A piece of American history has been unearthed at the Liberia House, one of the most historically significant sites in Northern Virginia.

During a stream restoration project on the property on April 9, 2025, contractors uncovered a Civil War-era three-inch Shankle artillery shell, a rare and potentially dangerous artifact dating back over 160 years. The find was made during excavation work intended to reroute the stream back to its original course as part of a more comprehensive stormwater management effort.

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News

Ashworth Asks for More Staff as Supervisors Look to Approve Budget

By Caitlyn Meisner
[KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA via Pexels]

Ahead of fiscal year 2025, Ashworth similarly requested more staff members despite the Board being reluctant to fund additional positions. In response, Ashworth sent a letter to the Board stating she would withhold prosecution of certain misdemeanor charges if the Board didn’t approve her request.

“The bottom line is that this office was not properly staffed and funded for decades as the County grew up around us,” Ashworth wrote in an email to Potomac Local in April 2024.

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News

Stafford Property Taxes Up 62% Since 2012 as FY2026 Budget Clears

By Potomac Local News

STAFFORD, Va. — The average homeowner in Stafford County will pay $130 more in property taxes starting July 1, 2025, after the Board of Supervisors approved a three-percent increase to the real estate tax rate—the county’s central funding source for local government and schools. Homeowners with a property assessed at the county average of $434,400 will receive a $4,069 bill.

According to data from Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Mayausky, average residential tax bills have increased 62% since 2012, when the typical homeowner paid $2,506. Over the same period, the average home value rose nearly 60%, slightly trailing the pace of tax increases.

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