MANASSAS, VA — Novant Health celebrated Certified Nurses Day on Wednesday, March 19th, by honoring its 109 board certified nurses. The following nurses are being recognized for their professionalism, leadership and commitment to excellence in patient care:

Certification in Critical Care Nursing (CCRN): Julia Burgess, RN; Rene Ernest, RN; Jan Griffin, RN; Sarah Herbert, RN ; Katie Hoffman, RN; Darcy Jenkins, RN; Janet Moore, RN; Oi- Mei Yau, RN; Alicia Marie Ruiz, RN; Carlos Bernal, RN; Deana Coy, RN; Jacinta Gomes, RN; Donna Rea, RN; Jamie Stern, RN; William “Topper” Cramer, RN; Sondra Abraham, RN; Darryl Hampton, RN; Regina Cullen, RN; Tammy Rogers, RN; Umu Benjamin, RN; Erika Wimbish, RN; Hilary Woodier, RN; Mar Tortajada, RN

Sewer mains get damaged in a number of ways, including the intrusion of tree roots and the internal deterioration of the line due to grease, oils and other corrosive substances.

When mains are damaged, heavy rains can cause infiltration of groundwater into the sewer system. In the worst case scenario, it can cause a backup into a home or business.

A certificate program offered through an educational alliance between Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and La Cocina VA, a nonprofit organization that generates workforce and economic development, will allow unemployed Hispanics to obtain skills in the food service industry and improve their employment opportunities.

La Cocina VA and NOVA recognize the additional challenges that the 2.2 million unemployed members of Hispanic communities often face in job attainment, such as low English proficiency and lack of access to training programs. Frequently, occupational training programs are not targeted toward groups who have limited English skills or low educational attainment. This further prevents Hispanic immigrants from gaining the skills they need to obtain a sustainable income and pursue a growing career path.

April is Litter Awareness Month in Prince William County, which means that it’s officially time for spring cleaning to begin. There are several events planned throughout the month to help bring attention to the “dirty” topic of litter, which does not get much attention throughout the year.

“Litter looks bad,” said Prince William County Solid Waste Division Chief Thomas Smith. “If you’re jogging, riding a bike or walking, and you see litter, it just gives you a bad feeling. It gets into our lakes and our streams; and it affects animals and fish in our habitats. It’s just bad, not only for our community, but for our environment, as well.”

Folks who are looking to buy their first home or looking for a place to rent should attend the 2014 Northern Virginia Housing Expo on March 29, which is free to the public. Resources at the annual event, which will run between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, will include workshops and exhibits.

“We want folks to come in and ask, ‘How do I go about purchasing a home? How do I prepare to rent a home? How are my finances?’” said Elijah Johnson, Prince William County’s Housing and Community Development Director. “Those are some of the workshops that we’ll be having; teaching people that home-buying process.”